The Better Travel Podcast

This week, we’re exploring a topic that’s on the minds of a lot of travelers these days: short-term tourist rentals, which is a service offered by a lot of companies, but perhaps the most well known is Airbnb.

First up, Dr. Daniel Guttentag of the College of Charleston joins the show to explain why short-term rentals hold so much appeal, and to tell us how these kinds of services have evolved over the years. He also describes some of the impacts of short-term rentals and offers some advice for travelers who are looking to have a positive impact when they book a rental stay.

Next, Paige speaks to Jonathan Reyes, co-founder of a cooperative called Fairbnb that is taking a collaborative approach to offering rented tourist accommodation in popular destinations in Europe and beyond.

Plus, listen up for a few snippets from Paige’s recent trip to Florence with her family.

Thank you so much for listening!

Resources

Donation page for the UN Refugee Agency's work to support Ukrainian families

Dr. Daniel Guttentag and his research on Airbnb

Paige’s 2021 story on Airbnb in Barcelona for The New York Times (unlocked link)

Fairbnb

A 2016 article in The Guardian about Fairbnb

For the final episode of Season One, we are delighted to bring you a conversation with American travel legend Rick Steves. Rick is a guidebook author, television and radio host, and the owner of a tour company that has brought hundreds of thousands of travelers to Europe over the years. On the show, Rick speaks passionately about how travel can be a powerful force for peace and human understanding, and he shares what he’s learned about what it’s like to travel during the pandemic.

Toward the end of the episode, Paige speaks to Craig Davidson, the Chief Operating Officer of Rick’s tour company, Rick Steves’ Europe. Craig explains how the company is taking action on climate change.

Thank you so much for listening. We’ll be back in January with the launch of Season Two!

Resources

Rick’s tour company

Free access to all of Rick’s television shows, articles and radio programs

Rick’s program on the Holy Land

Paige’s Q&A with Rick Steves in The New York Times (unlocked)

Rick Steves’ Europe Climate-Smart Commitment

Rick's book, "Travel as a Political Act"

New York Times article on the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism (unlocked)

The full transcript of this episode is available on The Better Travel Podcast website

My guest this week is Jason Moore, host of the Zero to Travel podcast and an American living in Norway. Jason talks about what it means to throw yourself into another culture; he describes some of the challenges that he experienced in adjusting to life in his adopted country; and he shares how living abroad can reveal some really important things about ourselves.

Listen up toward the end of our conversation, when Jason offers his three pieces of advice for how you can be a better resident of your adopted home.

Are you thinking of making a move overseas, or are you already living outside of your home country? How is that going for you? Or what’s keeping you from taking the leap? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share by sending me a voice message.

Thanks so much for listening and hope you have a great week!

Resources

The Zero to Travel Podcast

Jason’s Location Indie community

The Four-Hour Work Week, book by Timothy Ferriss

Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, book by William Bridges

When Paige was a guest on Jason’s podcast

Episode partner

Intrepid Travel is a global tour operator that has been taking adventurous travelers to the world’s most amazing places for more than 30 years. The world’s largest B-Certified travel company, Intrepid is a global leader in responsible travel. Learn more at www.intrepidtravel.com.

Thanks so much to Intrepid for supporting the show this week!

This week, New York Times Travel Editor Amy Virshup joins the show to talk about managing the paper’s travel coverage during the pandemic. She shares how the NYT’s signature 52 Places List is going to look different in 2022, and describes what the future might hold for the paper’s much-loved 36 Hours series.

Amy also describes how she’s developed a new relationship with her readers during the pandemic, and explains the NYT policy of not working with travel writers who accept free trips. She wraps up by telling us what she’s looking for in pitches from journalists for next year.

Are you a reader of New York Times Travel? What have you thought of the section’s coverage during the pandemic? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share by sending me a voice message.

Thanks so much for listening and have a great week!

NYT articles mentioned in the show

52 Places to Love in 2021

52 Places, Virtually (unlocked)

Paris on Foot: 35 Miles, 6 Days and One Blistered Toe (unlocked)

Hunting for the Real Pasta all’Amatriciana (unlocked)

What to Do This Summer: Chapel Hill, N.C. (unlocked)

36 Hours in ... Wherever You Are? (unlocked)

NYT Travel’s 36 Hours series

This week, we hear from a big player in the travel industry that’s serious about sustainability. Zina Bencheick is Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa of Intrepid Travel, a global tour operator that took more than 460,000 people on trips in 2019. Intrepid is also the world’s largest travel company to have earned B Corp certification, a rigorous standard that measures companies’ social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.

Zina joins the show to talk about misconceptions around the term “sustainable travel,” the importance of vaccine equity, and what travel companies can do to reduce their carbon emissions. She also shares how tourism has opened up new job opportunities for women in her home country of Morocco.

Are you looking to plan a trip for next year? What issues are you thinking about, or what questions would you have for a tour operator? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share by sending me a voice message.

Thanks so much for listening, and have a great week!

Resources

Intrepid Travel on being a responsible traveler and a responsible business

What is B Corp certification?

Follow Zina on Twitter

Paige’s Q&A with Rick Steves in The New York Times (unlocked article)