Shows / Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Welcome to 'Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys', your ultimate guide to immersive travel experiences without leaving the comfort of your home. Join Norm, a seasoned traveler and captivating storyteller, as he takes you on a virtual journey to the world's most fascinating destinations. Each episode, Norm shares his vivid travel memories, expert tips, and behind-the-scenes stories, transporting you from your armchair to Tahiti's top islands, the best beaches of the Cook Islands…
Episodes
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
No Regrets in Remote Tahiti: Aranui 5 Guide Stories, Repeat Travelers, and Island Life (Ep. 6)
In this episode, we talk about the kind of travel story that sticks with you—the ones built on people, not just places—recorded aboard the Aranui 5 freighter…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Taboo and Turtle Petroglyphs: An Archaeologist’s Austral Islands Stories (Ep. 5)
In this episode, we talk about the Austral Islands with veteran archaeologist Mark Eddowes, sharing the kinds of stories that make armchair travel feel…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Journey to Guadalcanal: Languages, Villages, Tenaru Waterfall, and WWII Landmarks
In this episode, we talk about Guadalcanal Province in the Solomon Islands as if we’re mapping out the trip together—imagining the days, the routes, and the…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
A “Wow” Welcome in the Marquesas: Lehi’s Aranui 5 Excursion Stories (Ep. 4)
In this episode, we talk about the island days that turn a trip into a story—Aranui 5 shore excursions and experiences, told through the eyes of Lehi, a guide…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Trip to the Solomon Islands: Guadalcanal Stories, Culture, and Savo Volcano
In this episode, we talk about the Solomon Islands as if we’re planning the journey together from home—imagining the days, the tours, and the moments that…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
A Working Ship, a Real Story: Why Aranoa’s Cargo-Cruise Mission Matters (Ep. 3)
In this episode, we talk about the kind of travel story that leaves you with zero regrets: not just where you went, but what you understood when you were…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
The Cargo Stories You’ll Tell Forever (Ep. 2) — Why Aranui’s Freight Side Creates Zero-Regret Travel
In this episode, we talk about the kind of travel that becomes a permanent story—because it’s rooted in real life, not scripted entertainment—and how Far and…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Aranui 5 Behind the Scenes (Ep. 1) — The Moments You Can’t Script
In this episode, we talk about the kind of travel experience that earns “zero regrets” status: a voyage where the best stories are often created by the…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Zero Travel Regrets in Moorea: Staying at Niu Beach Hotel
In this episode, we talk about avoiding travel regrets by choosing accommodations that match your travel style, using Niu Beach Hotel in Moorea as a case…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Moorea Lagoon Magic—What I’d Do Again (and Why)
In this episode, we talk about a Moorea lagoon experience that earns a spot in the “do it again” category—an on-location conversation with Nico from Moorea…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Imagining Breakas: A Beachfront Retreat for the Soul
In this episode we talk with Breakas Beach Resort about what makes their beachfront escape unforgettable — even in your imagination. Host Normand Schafer…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
A Day in Efate: Touring Vanuatu with Bountiful — From the Comfort of Home
In this episode we talk about exploring Vanuatu’s Efate Island — without ever leaving your seat. Host Normand Schafer takes listeners on a virtual journey with…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
An Afternoon in Mele Village: Imagining a Vanuatu Visit with Authentic Mala Tours
In this episode we talk with Authentic Mala Tours to explore the sounds, scents, and spirit of Mele Village — all from the comfort of home. Host Normand…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Wanderlust from Your Sofa: A Dreamy Journey to American Samoa
In this episode we talk about the wonders of American Samoa from the comfort of your home. Host Normand Schafer guides listeners through the islands’ natural…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Flying Through the Clouds: Imagining PNG with Air Niugini
In this episode we talk with Air Niugini about the beauty of Papua New Guinea’s skies and landscapes — all imagined from the comfort of your home. Host Normand…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
A Day in Munda: Imagining Island Life from the Dock at Agnes Gateway
In this episode we talk about the sensory beauty of the Solomon Islands — as seen from the peaceful dock of the Agnes Gateway Hotel. Host Normand Schafer…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Cook Islands Tourism: An Armchair Escape to the Islands of Paradise
In this episode we talk about the Cook Islands through the stories of Cook Islands Tourism representative Daniel. Host Normand Schafer takes listeners on a…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
No Travel Regrets: Armchair Journey to Tanna’s Volcano Rim & Blue Hole Reefs
In this episode, we talk about an armchair journey to Tanna Island, Vanuatu—White Grass Ocean Resort, Mount Yasur, and vivid reef experiences that make this…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Dreaming of Waterfalls and Volcanoes: An Armchair Journey to Vanuatu
In this episode we talk with Adventures in Paradise about the sights and sensations of Vanuatu — all imagined from your favorite chair. Host Normand Schafer…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Cook Islands Tours: An Armchair Escape into Island Life
In this episode we talk about the beauty and culture of the Cook Islands from the comfort of home. Host Normand Schafer invites listeners to imagine snorkeling…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Cruising Fiji from the Couch: Exploring Captain Cook’s Island Routes
In this episode we talk with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji about their unique island-hopping experiences — no travel required. Host Normand Schafer recreates the…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Journey to the Cook Islands & Samoa: Dance, Community, and Island Know-How
In this episode, we talk about the Cook Islands and Samoa as if we’re planning the trip together from the comfort of home—imagining the cultural moments, the…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Drifting with Dolphins: Dreaming of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort
In this episode we talk about the emotional and sensory beauty of this world-famous Fijian retreat. Normand Schafer paints an evocative picture of quiet…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Escape to the Cook Islands: Turtle Lagoons, Island Nights & Aitutaki Dreams
In this episode, we talk about an armchair journey through the Cook Islands—how three resort experiences across Rarotonga and Aitutaki can fit families…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Flying Over Fiji: A Helicopter Daydream with Island Hoppers
In this episode we talk about the dreamlike sensation of flying low over coral reefs and watching the sea change color beneath you. Host Normand Schafer…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
A Day in Natadola: Imagining a Stay at InterContinental Fiji
In this episode we talk about what it feels like to wake up to the sound of the Coral Coast. Host Normand Schafer offers an immersive storytelling journey…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
White Sand Dreams: Imagining a Stay at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort
In this episode we talk about an idealized island day at Hilton Fiji. Host Normand Schafer paints an audio portrait of morning beach walks, gourmet breakfast…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
The Arrival: Imagining a Warm Welcome at Tokatoka Resort
In this episode we talk about those first few hours in Fiji — stepping off a plane and into a place where time slows down. Host Normand Schafer shares stories…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
From Couch to Canyon: Quad Biking Fiji with Go Dirty Tours
In this episode we talk about roaring engines, thick jungle, and the sound of laughter echoing through sugarcane fields. Host Normand Schafer transports…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
First Footprints in Fiji: A Journey into Legends and Lagoon Views
In this episode we talk about the rich mythology and soothing atmosphere of First Landing Resort. Normand Schafer takes listeners on a story-filled journey to…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 10: Listen to the Land — Healing Stories from Ancestral Villages
In this episode we talk about travel that doesn’t require a plane ticket to feel real. Haida watcher and guide Gidinjad shares a 35-year journey serving…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
A Garden Escape in the Tropics: Dreaming of Fiji Orchid
In this episode we talk about the scent of orchids in the breeze, a secluded bure under the palms, and the distant hum of the South Pacific. Host Normand…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 8: Norm Visits SG̱ang Gwaay – A Sacred Journey from the Armchair
In this episode we talk about the UNESCO village site of SG̱ang Gwaay in Haida Gwaii with Haida Watchman Teresa Russ, and Norm takes a quiet, reflective…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 9: Norm Visits Skedans – A Quiet Walk Through Time
In this episode we talk about Skedans (K’una), a coastal Haida village where mortuary poles quietly fade into the earth and stories are carried by cedar and…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Turning Flight Disruption Chaos into Memorable Journeys
In this episode we talk about the chaos of the Air Canada strike, which has been resolved but left behind stories of travelers stuck, rerouted, or forced to…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Planning the Skies: Visualizing Fiji’s Air Connections from Home
In this episode we talk with John Checketts about how flight routes to Fiji are created and visualized. Even if you’re traveling from your couch, Host Normand…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 6.2 : What I Felt, Just Listening
In this episode we hear Norm reflect on how just listening to stories from Gwaii Haanas brought up emotion and introspection. Learn more about visiting in…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 7: Norm Soaks in the Stories – A Virtual Journey to G̱andll K’in Gwaay.yaay (Hotspring Island)
In this episode we talk about Gandll K’in Gwaay.yaay through the storytelling lens of Haida Watchman Dalen Moody, and Norm imagines himself soaking in the…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Pacific Innovation from the Couch: Touring the Islands Digitally
In this episode we talk about the South Pacific’s tourism transformation—without ever leaving your chair. Host Normand Schafer takes you through a virtual tour…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 5: A Forest Full of Stories – Norm Visits T’aanuu Llnagaay from Afar
In this episode we talk about how a remote ancient village on Haida Gwaii can come alive through storytelling—no travel required. Haida Watchman Douglas Moody…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 6: Norm Goes Deep – Gwaii Haanas from the Heart
In this episode we talk about Gwaii Haanas as told by guide Erich Kelch and interpreted by Norm, who takes us on an armchair journey through mossy forests…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Listening to the Land: A Journey with Fiji’s Duvata Collective
In this episode we talk about what it feels like to travel through story, connection, and cultural truth — even from your chair. Normand Schafer paints a vivid…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 3: Transformative Travel That Honors People & Place
In this episode we talk about the intersection between travel and responsibility, guided by Shelly Sansom, founder of Ocean Edge Expeditions in Haida Gwaii…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 4: Cultural Insight from a Haida Guide & Keeper of Tradition
In this episode we talk about connecting with ancestral culture in a way that respects tradition, place, and lineage. Linda Tallis, guide, watchman, and…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Culture Village Fiji: A Story You Can Feel
In this episode we talk about the magic of experiencing a culture through your senses — the drumbeats, the wood smoke, the laughter. Host Normand Schafer takes…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 1: This Journey Changes You
In this episode we talk about what it’s like to step onto a boat and into a world unchanged by time. Visit https://farandawayadventures.com to plan your…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Haida Gwaii Episode 2: A Naturalist’s Playground – Birdsong, Whales, and Wilderness Wonder
In this episode we talk about the wildlife spectacles of Haida Gwaii with Josh Green, a conservation biologist and onboard naturalist with Maple Leaf…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
The Magic of Slowing Down: A Journey to Crusoe’s
In this episode we talk about the calming power of slow travel — and how Crusoe’s Retreat offers exactly that. Host Normand Schafer recounts his stay through…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
An Oceanfront Welcome: Imagining Crowne Plaza Fiji from Home
In this episode we talk about the experience of arriving in Fiji and being greeted with warm smiles, gentle waves, and modern luxury. Host Normand Schafer…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Escape: Island Days at Castaway
In this episode we talk about what it feels like to live on a private island, told through the lens of a Fijian resort classic. Host Normand Schafer shares…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Mantas of the Mind: A Guided Imagination Trip to Barefoot Manta
In this episode we talk about the awe and wonder of swimming with manta rays—without ever leaving your chair. Normand Schafer walks you through a vivid mental…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Shark Tales from Fiji: An Armchair Adventure to Barefoot Kuata
In this episode we talk about what it’s like to swim with reef sharks — from the comfort of your imagination. Host Normand Schafer interviews a marine…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Escape: Behind the Scenes with Tahiti Travel ServicesArmchair Escape: Behind the Scenes with Tahiti Travel Services
In this episode we talk about what makes Tahiti Travel Services the ultimate enabler of unforgettable island experiences—even if you’re just dreaming from your…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Escape: Experience Fiji's Ahura Resorts from Home
In this episode we talk about the captivating experiences offered by Ahura Resorts at Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort. Host Normand Schafer…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Spa Island Dreams: A Relaxation Journey Through the South Pacific
In this episode we talk about the most luxurious spa and wellness retreats in the South Pacific—but from the cozy comfort of Norm’s armchair. Let Norm take you…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Secluded Dreams: Exploring the World’s Most Luxurious Island Getaways from Home
In this episode we talk about the South Pacific’s most luxurious and secluded private islands—from the comfort of Norm’s armchair. If you've ever dreamed of…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Armchair Whale Watching: Journey to the South Pacific’s Wild Giants
In this episode we talk about the dream of swimming with whales in the South Pacific—without ever leaving your chair. Join Norm on a vivid, immersive journey…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Ride the Breeze with Norm: Dreaming of Windy Shores in the South Pacific
In this episode we talk about the joy of imagining the wind in your hair and a kite above your head—right from Norm’s favorite chair. With his trademark…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Surfing the South Pacific: A Virtual Ride Through the Region’s Best Waves
You don’t need a surfboard—or even a passport—to experience the thrill of riding the perfect wave in the South Pacific. In this episode, we take you on a…
- Zero Travel Regrets: Norm's Armchair Travel Journeys
Norm's Guide to the Best Island Hopping in the South Pacific
Join Norm as he takes you on an armchair journey through the best island-hopping adventures in the South Pacific! Learn how to plan your route, pick the…