Travel Stories Unpacked
Welcome to the Travel Stories Unpacked podcast! Here we will talk about all things travel from the silly, to the serious, and everywhere in between. If you love travel, and you like listening to strangers' stories and opinions, then be sure to subscribe. We will bring you new episodes on Fridays.
This podcast is brought to you by KHM Travel Group.
Episodes
57 episodes
Unpacking the Trip That Left Annie in Stitches… Literally
⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised: This episode includes graphic descriptions of an injury that may be unsettling to some listeners. What starts as a dream adventure through Zion National Park — complete with e-bikes, epic hikes...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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40:16
Why Everyone Should Use a Travel Agent Unpacked
May is a special time to recognize the impact of travel professionals — it's National Travel Advisor Month and National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4–10)! In this heartfelt episode of Travel Stories Unpacked, we’re honoring the incredible inde...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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32:06
De-Influencing Travel: Unpacking the Insta-Vacation Illusion
This week on Travel Stories Unpacked, Ashley and Annie are diving deep into the trend of travel de-influencing. From Coachella clout chasers and van life glam shots to airport theory disasters, they’re unpacking how social media has shaped (and...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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29:58
Is AI Ruining Travel? Tech in Travel Unpacked
AI (artificial intelligence) seems to be here to stay, and it is changing the way people travel. Are these changes something to fear, or something to embrace? How does AI impact travel agents, and how can they use AI to their advantage?
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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30:58
Is Universal better than Disney World? Unpacking Theme Parks
Annie and Ashley went to Orlando for KHM Travel's Crystal Conference and got to spend the day at Universal Orlando Resort! Visiting both Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. We unpack our favorite experiences, and compare it to...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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38:10
Southwest Shocks Travelers: Flying in 2025 Unpacked
Travelers have been buzzing about the new airline changes taking place in 2025. Top of the list the month? Southwest Airlines changing their free checked bag policy. Join Annie and Ashley as we unpack this change, and a surprising ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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31:39
Top Travel Destinations for Women in 2025 Unpacked
Planning your next solo vacation as a female traveler? Or wondering where to go for your next girls trip? We are unpacking the best travel destinations for women in 2025! Some of our picks may surprise you! We want to hear from you!...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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25:59
2025 Cruise News: What You Need to Know Unpacked
What is new in the cruise industry for 2025? Join us as we unpack trending cruise destinations, new ships, cruise line policy changes, and why you should always work with a travel agent! Interested in becoming a cruise travel agent?...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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30:09
Barbieland to Bikini Bottom: Fictional Destinations Unpacked
Our favorite books, TV shows, comic books, and movies can transport us to an entirely different world. What if we were able to travel to these places in real life? We are unpacking some of our favorite fictional destinations that we...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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34:36
Tourists in America: Hot Dog Homecoming Unpacked
We love to talk about travel, and today we are unpacking what it is like for tourists when they visit the United States. From experiencing our infrastructure, to shopping and American cuisine, there are plenty of culture shocks tha...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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38:11
Where NOT To Travel in 2025: Troubling Trends Unpacked
Are you planning travel for 2025 and wondering what destinations to avoid? We are unpacking all the places you should think twice about visiting in 2025. From protests, to environmental impacts, to unpleasant crowds and travel delays, consideri...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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28:49
2024 Unpacked: Favorite Episodes & Fan Comments
Thank you all for a great 2024, and first year of Travel Stories Unpacked! In this episode, we are going over some of our favorite highlights from the year, sharing your fan comments, and revealing our plans for Travel Stories Unpacked in 2025....
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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35:51
Christmas Cruises Unpacked: Decked out with Disney & the Hallmark Christmas Cruise
It's the holiday season, and that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and in need of a vacation. What about skipping your holiday plans and opting for a cruise vacation instead? It isn't just the plot of the movie "Christmas with the Kranks," but ...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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38:29
Guys Trips Unpacked: Gambling & Grilling
Grab the guys, it's time for a vacation! This week, we are unpacking guys trips with our guest, Austin. Austin shares his experiences with bachelor parties in Las Vegas and a birthday in Colorado. Share your guy trip stories and op...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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25:30
Travel Gifts Unpacked: Must-Haves for Travel Lovers
The holiday season is here, and for many of us that means the daunting task of finding gifts for everyone on our list. Ashley and Annie are here to help you find the perfect gift for the travel lovers in your life! From small stock...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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36:12
Bad Tourist Behavior Unpacked: "This One Might Shock You"
Vacation is great for people watching, and sometimes that means watching people do something embarrassing, rude, or downright wrong! We are unpacking some of the things that we think are bad tourist behaviors. Joining Ashley for this travel top...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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32:02
Luxury Travel Unpacked: Butlers, Bags, and Buffets
What is luxury travel? From contemporary travel brands, to premium and upmarket travel, we are here to talk about all the levels of luxury travel. Bill "Bougie" Coyle is back to help unpack this growing sector of travel and answer a...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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23:03
New Orleans Unpacked: The Most Haunted City in America?
New Orleans is known for its rich history and paranormal activity, and today we are unpacking this spooky city with New Orleanian, Bentlie Logan. Don't believe in ghosts? Well, this episode might change your mind as Bentlie shares ...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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36:28
Scary Travel Stories Unpacked: Haunted or Hoax?
Have you ever experienced something supernatural while traveling? We are sharing scary travel stories that were submitted by our listeners! From a ghost tour in Florida, to a haunted restaurant in New Orleans, to accidentally staying at a haunt...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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31:38
Halloween Unpacked: Disney Started Halloween in Tokyo?!
How do Halloween traditions and customs spread throughout the world? Join us as we unpack how Halloween is evolving in Southeast Asia, and the surprising roots of Halloween in Tokyo. We welcome back to the show, Annie Yu, who share...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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32:13
River Cruises Unpacked: "A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity"
Hello travelers and welcome to Travel Stories Unpacked! In this episode we are unpacking river cruises with our guest, Bri Greathouse. Bri describes her Viking river cruise on the Rhine as a "once in a lifetime opportunity." <...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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29:29
World Tourism Day Unpacked: Tourism & Peace
September 27 is World Tourism Day and the theme for 2024 is Tourism and Peace. Join Ashley and guest Geoff Cox a we unpack this important topic. Geoff has been in the travel industry for more than 30 years, and has experienced firs...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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29:19
Couples Trips Unpacked: Finding Your Dynamic
Traveling with your partner can make or break a relationship. Discovering each other's travel style and finding a good balance for everyone takes compromise and commitment.Ashley is joined by longtime her partner, Nate Bricker, to unpac...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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29:00
Camping Unpacked: "It Was Truly Traumatic"
We are happy to welcome back to the show, Ashley Jacin, as we unpack all our opinions about camping. Spoiler: we don't think camping counts as a vacation! But, it can be a rewarding and affordable way to see the world. We want to k...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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29:13
Ohio Unpacked: "We're Not That Bad"
O-H....I-O! That's right, we are unpacking Ohio! Ashley is joined by fellow Ohioan, Sara Rawlings, as we share all the things we love about our home state. There is so much to do in Ohio. From parks and museums, to thrill inducing ...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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26:45