Shows / Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Unpacked by Afar is your weekly guide to where to go, how to travel, and everything worth unpacking in between. Each week, host Aislyn Greene and the Afar team travel the world and dig into the big questions behind every great trip, from the best new hotels and national parks to traveling more responsibly. Some weeks we follow a story through music, food, and culture. Others we tackle a tricky topic, share our favorite destinations, or help you plan where to go next. Because the travel world is…
Episodes
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
The Making of a Patagonian National Park
When Kris Tompkins, former Patagonia CEO, moved to Chile in the ’90s, she and her late husband, Doug Tompkins, began a decades-long conservation project in…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
How to Make Hard Travel Funny, According to a Comedian
This week we’re chatting with comedian, activist, and podcast host Youngmi Mayer, who’s based in New York City’s Chinatown. Host Mae Hamilton, AFAR’s assistant…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Would You Hike 500 Miles With Your Teenager? Andrew McCarthy Said Yes.
Hiking Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail is one of the world’s great pilgrimages. And actor, writer, and director Andrew McCarthy has walked the 500-mile Camino…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Why Do I Want to Stay for Another Drink? The Subconscious Power of Music in Hotels
Think back to the last time you stayed at a hotel: Did you notice the music playing? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, that music was likely highly curated. And…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Ghosts, Celebs, and Rock ’n’ Roll: A History of NYC’s Hotel Chelsea
How does the hotel that attracted luminaries like Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and Sid Vicious undergo a renovation without losing its gritty, celeb-packed…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
How the Host of a Must-Watch Nature Show Deals With Climate Change
What will the Earth look like in seven years, as climate change progresses, and what we can do about it? That’s the premise of the PBS show Changing Planet…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
How to Sleep Better While Traveling
We’ve all been there: Tossing and turning on a long-haul flight, or in an unfamiliar hotel bed. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Enter Anne Bartolucci, a…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Into the Heart of North America's Iceland
This week, we’re heading to Iceland—well, kinda. We’re actually exploring the Viking hearts of New Icelanders, from Gimli, Manitoba to Mountain, North Dakota…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
A National Parks Road Trip for the Ages
In early 2020, journalist Emily Pennington set out on a year-long road trip to visit all 62 national parks in the United States. A few months into her journey…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Tourism Was Destroying Kerala. So Kerala Fought Back.
Kerala is one of the most striking states in southern India, with sandy beaches, lagoons, and cultural traditions that are magnets for travelers. But 15 years…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Part II: A Man, a Dog, a Walk Around the World
In 2015, Tom Turcich—and his dog, Savannah—left his home to begin a walk around the world that would span 7 years, 28,000 miles, 38 countries, and 6…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Part I: A Man, a Dog, a Walk Around the World
In 2015, Tom Turcich—and his dog, Savannah—left his home to begin a walk around the world that would span 7 years, 28,000 miles, 38 countries, and 6…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
How Travel Can Help Us Grieve
We turn to travel for a thousand different things: Connection, adventure, vacation, learning, family, the list goes on. One element of life and travel we don’t…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
How to Travel, and Soothe Your Anxiety, in a Climate-Changing World
It’s no secret that our climate is changing fast. From hurricanes to wildfires, those changes are impacting us more and more each year. How do we deal with the…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Happy New(ish) Year! Now, Go Hug a Tree
Hey, listeners! Have you ever hugged a tree? If not, today's episode might inspire you to. AFAR editor Aislyn Greene talks with forest-bathing guide, Ben Page…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
The Best Places to Travel in 2023
Where should I go this year? It's our favorite question—and (we hope) yours! For our annual where to go list, we handpicked 12 unique destinations, from the…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Unpacked Is Back! (And a Little Different)
It's a bright, shiny new year, which means a bright, shiny new year of travel. Here at AFAR, we're bursting with ideas and enthusiasm—and we want to share it…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Is This Appropriate? How to (and How Not to) Engage With Cultural Tourism
Have you ever wanted to take a picture during your travels, but you weren’t sure if it was OK? Or have you come across a traditional performance and wondered…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
The Truth About Accessibility and Travel
When it comes to travel, accessibility is often an afterthought. But it shouldn't be. Qudsiya Naqui, host of the Down to the Struts podcast, takes on a journey…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
What in the World Is 'Regenerative Travel'?
What in the world is regenerative travel? Kristy Drutman, host of the Brown Girl Green podcast, takes us deep in the world of green travel, where…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Is It Really Possible to Travel Like a Local?
What does it mean when we say we want to "travel like a local?" It's a well-intentioned phrase, but also, well, impossible. In this episode, we'll unpack the…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
How to Navigate the Wild World of Animal Tourism
There's nothing quite like a magical, transportive animal encounter—but how do we ensure those encounters are good for the animals (and good for the places we…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Let's Scale Back That Revenge Travel, Shall We?
Today, we're talking about revenge. Well, sort of. In this episode, writer Paige McClanahan—host of the Better Travel Podcast—explores the concept of "revenge…
- Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly
Introducing: Unpacked by AFAR
Have you ever been traveling and encountered a situation where you felt a little . . . uncomfortable? Yeah, us too. Each week on Unpacked by AFAR, we'll unpack…