SEND US A VOICEMAIL! Be part of the show. Tap or click the link to ask your travel related question(s)...or just say hi. Tell us your name and where you live.

Hawaii is one of the easiest “yes” vacations you can book, but choosing the right island can feel like a quiz you didn’t study for. We walk through a simple way to decide by matching the island to the experience you actually want, then we stack the conversation with specific, practical ideas you can plug straight into your itinerary.

We start with a few travel-planning updates that can save you time and headaches. TSA is expanding touchless ID to more airports, and we explain how TSA PreCheck, your passport profile, and airline enrollment work together to make security smoother. We also run through passport tips travelers still miss, like the six-month validity expectation, keeping your passport in good condition, and having enough blank pages for stamps and visas.

Then we answer a listener question head-on: what are the top things to do on each Hawaii island? Think Big Island volcano time, manta ray night snorkeling, Kona coffee, and black sand beaches. Kauai brings the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and the start of the Kalalau Trail. Maui gets the full bucket-list treatment with Haleakala sunrise, the Road to Hana, Molokini Crater snorkeling, and Ka’anapali. Oahu rounds it out with Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and the North Shore. We also share a Hawaii deal that can save up to $250, plus a cruise corner update on Alaska price drops and Holland America’s limited $1 deposit window.

If this helps, subscribe to the podcast, share it with your favorite travel buddy, and leave a review so more listeners can find our Hawaii and cruise planning tips.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to my show.

The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or simply give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you.

TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me.

Here's my contact information:

Patrick Wiscombe

Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717

Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd

SEND US A VOICEMAIL! Be part of the show. Tap or click the link to ask your travel related question(s)...or just say hi. Tell us your name and where you live.

Southwest Airlines with airport lounges? That headline stopped us in our tracks, because it signals a real shift in how Southwest wants to compete and how travelers might plan airport time, starting with a lounge planned for Honolulu. We also talk through a practical route update for Hawaii fans: Southwest flying from Las Vegas to Hilo, which makes the Big Island easier to reach if you’d rather land closer to waterfalls, rainforests, and Volcanoes National Park.

Then we jump to Europe, where Rome is experimenting with a two-euro fee to get close to the Trevi Fountain during peak hours. It’s a small price, but it raises a big travel question: how do you keep iconic places enjoyable when the crowds never stop? We share the simple planning mindset that helps, including when to visit so you can still get that “I can’t believe I’m here” moment.

A listener text takes us to Norway, one of our favorite destinations for fjords, towering cliffs, and waterfall-packed cruises. We break down the best time to go for fjords and long daylight, the best season for northern lights, and what to do in Oslo, including an easy “Norway in a Nutshell” route. Finally, the cruise headlines: Great Stirrup Key’s new pier, French Riviera cruise limits, and long Alaska cruises from 10 to 16 days, including an Alaska and Hawaii itinerary. If you like travel deals, cruise news, and real-world trip planning, subscribe, share this with a travel buddy, and leave us a review.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to my show.

The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or simply give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you.

TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me.

Here's my contact information:

Patrick Wiscombe

Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717

Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd

SEND US A VOICEMAIL! Be part of the show. Tap or click the link to ask your travel related question(s)...or just say hi. Tell us your name and where you live.

Europe travel is adding new layers of “permission to travel,” and the acronyms can feel like a prank until you are staring at an airport check-in counter. We break down what EES means for border control and biometric entry, what ETIAS is (and what it is not), and why the UK ETA is a separate requirement. If you’re planning Italy travel, a Rome vacation, or a multi-country Europe itinerary, this is the practical checklist talk that helps you avoid last-minute surprises.

Then we go from paperwork to daydreaming with a listener question we love: what to do when you’ve already seen Rome’s headline sights. We share five day trips from Rome that add real variety to your schedule, from Tivoli’s Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa to the ruins of Ostia Antica, the hill town magic of Orvieto, a food-forward run to Naples (yes, pizza), and a taste of Tuscany in Cortona. If you have limited vacation time, we also touch on a growing trend toward shorter tours and compact itineraries that still deliver a full experience.

We round it out with deals and cruising: a Delta Vacations promotion with potential savings and bonus Delta SkyMiles, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea Plus perks like premium beverages and upgraded Wi‑Fi, a Smithsonian-curated Grand Danube river cruise on AMA Waterways, and an MSC 115-night world cruise for the truly adventurous. If this helps you plan even one great trip, subscribe, share the show with a travel buddy, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to my show.

The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or simply give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you.

TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me.

Here's my contact information:

Patrick Wiscombe

Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717

Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd