Unpacked by Afar

Jet lag doesn't have to ruin your trip. On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares her game-changing experience using a jet lag protocol originally developed for Navy SEALs—and digs into the fascinating science of why it works. She speaks with Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, one of Stanford's leading circadian rhythm researchers, and Andrew Herr, the founder of Flykitt, who transformed military sleep science into a practical travel solution. In this episode, you'll learn What's really happening in your body when you cross time zones Why light exposure is exponentially more powerful than you think How psychology and expectation affect your jet lag experience The surprising role of inflammation in post-flight fatigue Episode chapters 00:00:00 The Unofficial Travel Tax 00:01:45 Inside Your Circadian Clock 00:05:30 Light, Food, and Melatonin 00:09:00 How Flykitt Was Born 00:11:30 The Protocol, Step by Step Meet this week's guests Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Andrew Herr, Founder of Flykitt Resources Read Aislyn's full Fly Kit review and experience Try Flykitt yourself: Afar listeners get 10% off with promo code AFAR10 Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most overtouristed cities—but it’s also so much more than the crowds in the city center suggest. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar’s ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—host Aislyn Greene is joined by journalist Blane Bachelor, who moved to Amsterdam during the pandemic and has spent years navigating life as a resident. She shares how to experience the real Amsterdam—the neighborhoods, restaurants, and rhythms that exist just beyond the tourist-packed city center.   In this episode, you’ll learn •       Why Amsterdam’s overtourism problem is really concentrated in just a few city-center neighborhoods—and how to avoid them •       The best neighborhoods to stay in, including the artsy Noord and the very-Dutch Oost •       When to visit for fewer crowds: the Amsterdam Light Festival in November and King’s Day in April •       How to experience the Red Light District (De Wallen) thoughtfully and with historical context •       The unwritten rules of cycling in Amsterdam—and why this is not the place to shake off the cobwebs •       Where locals actually eat and drink, including a 17th-century gilded unicorn and a cash-only Dutch bar   Episode chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:30 Amsterdam's overtourism problem 12:00 Best neighborhoods to stay in: Oost and Noord 15:00 Best times to visit 21:00 Where to stay: hotels vs. Airbnb 24:30 First-timer tips for the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum 29:00 Navigating the Red Light District (De Wallen) 40:30 Dutch culture: directness, English fluency, and learning a few words 43:00 Cycling in Amsterdam: rules, etiquette, and survival tips   Resources •       Read Blaine’s Amsterdam Off the Beaten Path story on afar.com •       Follow Blaine’s Dutch adventures on Instagram •       Check out our Iceland and England Off the Tourist Trail episodes   Where to Stay •       Rosewood Amsterdam — The last hotel to be built in Amsterdam due to overtourism restrictions •       Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht — Playful Dutch-designed interiors; canal-view rooms feel like you’re on the water •       The Hoxton, Amsterdam — Two locations; the Eastern Docklands outpost is a local favorite •       Hotel Arena — In Oost; known for its exceptional weekend brunch buffet   What to Do •       Anne Frank House — Book immediately; tickets drop every Tuesday at 10 AM Amsterdam time, six weeks out •       Rijksmuseum — Check for evening hours for a slightly less hectic visit •       Prostitution Information Centre (De Wallen) — A thoughtful entry point into De Wallen’s history and culture •       Vintage salon boat canal tours — Go small and guided; avoid the large party “buses” •       Amsterdam Light Festival — November–January; illuminated art along the canals •       King’s Day (Koningsdag) — April 27; street markets, orange everything, genuinely local vibe •       Free ferries from Amsterdam Centraal to Noord — Walk or ride your bike on; no ticket needed •       Tulip fields near Keukenhof — View from the field edges in spring; don’t walk into the flowers •       SAIL Amsterdam 2030 — The world’s largest maritime event, returning in 2030   Stay Connected •       Sign up for Behind the Mic, our podcast newsletter with episode news and behind-the-scenes details. •       Also from Afar: View From Afar (the future of travel) and Travel Tales (first-person travel stories).   Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media’s podcast network. To advertise, contact [email protected]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it okay to watch a violent movie next to a stranger's kid on a plane? Should you abandon your airline loyalty card? And wait—is March actually the real start of the new year? On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene is joined by Afar editorial director Billy Cohen and deputy editor Michelle Baron for a wide-ranging conversation tied to Afar's annual Plan Your Travel Year package on afar.com. Together they break down what travelers actually need to know heading into 2026—from the shifting airline loyalty landscape and the true cost of travel credit cards to the events, destinations, and flight routes worth planning around this year. Plus: Michelle debuts a very special musical interlude. You'll want to stay for that. On this episode you'll learn: Why February (or maybe March?) is the real time to start planning your travel year How the airline loyalty and travel credit card game has changed—and what to do about it Which destinations are worth getting to before they blow up (Malta and Panama are calling) What events—from the World Cup to America's 250th—are shaping travel in 2026 Tips for stretching your PTO using federal holidays strategically Don't miss these moments: [01:45] The lightning round: TSA PreCheck, window vs. aisle, and travel credit cards in one word (or two) [09:45] Why the airline loyalty game "isn't so loyal anymore" [16:00] The Chase Sapphire Reserve breakup, and what it means for your points strategy [25:20] Biometrics, face scanning, and how close we really are to a passport-free airport [30:00] The lounge wars—and the case for a family-friendly soundproof play area [33:30] America 250: Tall ships in New York, a new Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a reexamination of the Battle of Little Bighorn [38:00] World Cup 2026: How to get tickets, where to stay, and why Providence might be smarter than Boston [44:30] How to stretch your PTO using federal holidays—and why Terry Ward changed Michelle's mind [48:30] Places to go before they get popular: Panama, Malta, Warsaw, and more [54:00] Revisiting the lightning round—and Billy's unexpected in-flight encounter with a Mad Men star's dad Resources: Explore Afar's complete ⁠Plan Your Travel Year⁠ package on afar.com. Read our story about whether or not airline loyalty is still worth it. Read Terry Ward's story on ⁠how to maximize your PTO⁠ in 2026. Read Afar's guide to ⁠12 places to visit before they get popular⁠. Explore Afar's ⁠Where to Go in 2026⁠ list. Stay up to date with Afar's ⁠travel news coverage⁠, including airline routes, loyalty programs, and credit card updates. Use ⁠points.me⁠ or ⁠Points Path⁠ to help maximize your miles and points redemptions. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠Behind the Mic⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠Travel Tales⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host and Afar executive editor Katherine LaGrave sits down with contributing writer Lisa Abend, a Copenhagen‑based journalist known for her deep reporting on food, culture, and the ways travel shapes communities. For her latest Afar feature, Lisa embarked on an ambitious road trip across northern Spain to visit five tiny towns where some of the country’s most exciting chefs are opening destination restaurants — and, in the process, helping revive regions long affected by depopulation. Lisa shares how she first discovered this movement, why these chefs are choosing villages of just a few hundred residents over major cities, and how their restaurants are sparking unexpected ripple effects — from new guesthouses to revived local food traditions. She also talks about the surprising absence of seafood in northern Spain’s inland kitchens, the emotional family histories behind many of these restaurants, and why chatting with gas‑station attendants might be the best road‑trip advice you’ll hear all year. On this episode you’ll learn: Why some of Spain’s most ambitious chefs are opening restaurants in remote villages How food tourism can help counter rural depopulation What makes northern Spain’s regional cultures so distinct — from language to landscape to cuisine Why hyperlocal cooking in these towns often excludes seafood, even when the coast is close How family history shapes the stories these chefs tell on the plate Don’t miss these moments: [03:00] The Madrid chef conference that sparked Lisa’s reporting [05:00] How a single restaurant can create a ripple effect across a small town [07:00] The surprising reason none of these restaurants serve seafood [14:00] Lisa’s best advice for road‑tripping across northern Spain [16:00] The gas‑station cherry exchange that became an unforgettable travel moment [21:00] The “pregnant bun” dish Lisa would eat again in a heartbeat [22:00] How family stories — and even abandoned villages — shaped the chefs’ menus Resources Read Lisa’s full Afar feature on Spain’s small‑town culinary revolution Follow Lisa Abend for more food and travel reporting Explore Afar’s Spain travel guides Visit the restaurants Lisa mentions in the episode and her story: Versátil, Monte, Arrea!, Ansils, Fuentelgato  Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming episodes and behind‑the‑scenes details. You can also explore our other podcasts: View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first‑person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. To inquire about advertising, contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Places like Saba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island with no beaches, no cruise ports, and the world's shortest commercial runway—just 400 meters long. What it does have: lush volcanic landscapes, 20 hand-built hiking trails, and a population of just over 2,000. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with ⁠Bianca Bujan⁠, a Vancouver-based travel journalist who shares the thrilling 12-minute flight from St. Martin, the island's gingerbread-house architecture, and why her teenager called it his favorite trip ever—despite spotty wifi and no beaches. Plan Your Saba Getaway Stay ⁠Juliana’s Hotel⁠ in Windward Side, a boutique property ⁠The Scenery Hotel, a new luxury boutique hotel opening in 2026 at the base of Mount Scenery Eat and Drink ⁠Tropics Cafe⁠ at Juliana's Hotel—popular with locals Try ⁠Saba Spice⁠, a local handmade spiced rum served on ice Time your visit for the ⁠Saba Rum and Lobster Festival⁠ in November See and Do Hike ⁠Mount Scenery⁠, technically the highest point in the Netherlands Try the ⁠Mas'Cohones Trail⁠ for spectacular views with a less strenuous climb Book a guided hike with ⁠Crocodile James⁠, a local legend, via the Saba Conservation Foundation Join a ⁠Sea and Learn Foundation⁠ workshop for hands-on experiences like wild clay pottery with locals Resources Follow Bianca on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or read her work on her website Explore ⁠Afar's ⁠Where to Go in 2026 list⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠@afarmedia⁠⁠ Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E4: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠⁠⁠ E5: ⁠⁠⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠⁠⁠ E6: ⁠⁠⁠Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting⁠⁠⁠ E7: ⁠⁠⁠The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret ⁠⁠⁠ E8: ⁠⁠⁠Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari ⁠⁠⁠ E9: ⁠⁠The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better ⁠⁠ E10: ⁠⁠The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing⁠⁠ E11: ⁠Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense⁠ E12: ⁠The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion⁠ E13: ⁠The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight⁠ E14: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse E15: (this one!) The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices