The 12 Best Vacation Podcasts (2026)

Chris Christensen has been running Amateur Traveler since 2005, making it one of the longest-running travel podcasts in existence. With over 1,000 episodes in the archive, there is genuinely no corner of the globe this show hasn't explored. Chris interviews a different travel expert or enthusiast each week, focusing on a single destination per episode. The conversation stays practical and culturally rich, covering everything from Puebla's street food scene to trekking through Pakistan's Skardu region.

The format works because Chris knows how to pull specific, useful details out of his guests. You won't get vague "it was amazing" recaps here. Instead, expect restaurant names, neighborhood recommendations, budget breakdowns, and honest opinions about what's worth skipping. Episodes typically run 30 to 45 minutes, long enough to give you a solid foundation for planning without turning into a marathon.

Chris has a Travel+Leisure award for best independent travel journalist and a spot in the Podcast Hall of Fame, which tells you something about the consistency. The show carries a 4.4 rating from over 1,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts. His approach leans toward culturally immersive travel rather than resort-style vacations, so expect episodes on Zimbabwe's Zambezi Valley and Sardinia alongside more conventional destinations like Bern or Vietnam. If you're the kind of traveler who wants to understand a place before you visit it, this podcast has probably already covered your next trip.

Kim, Brittanie, Jamal, and Zeina are long-time friends who turned their group travel obsession into a podcast that now bills itself as the number one vacation show. With 443 episodes and counting, they cover international destinations, national park adventures, road trips, wine regions, and weekend getaways with the kind of energy that makes you want to open a booking app mid-episode.

What sets Travel Squad apart from other travel podcasts is the group dynamic. These aren't polished travel influencers reading scripts. They argue about itineraries, disagree on restaurants, and roast each other's packing choices. The chemistry is genuine, and it makes even a detailed breakdown of glamping options in Colorado feel like you're sitting in on a friend group's trip-planning session. They also offer downloadable itineraries for many episodes, which is a nice touch if you want to actually replicate their trips.

The show includes regular "Just the Tip" bonus segments that offer focused travel advice on topics like points-and-miles strategy, packing essentials, and how to maximize layovers. Episodes run anywhere from 30 minutes to multi-hour deep dives depending on the destination. The podcast holds a 4.5 rating from 256 reviews on Apple Podcasts, with listeners consistently praising the actionable recommendations. Some reviews mention that ad frequency can be a bit much, but the content between the ads is solid. If you prefer your travel advice served with personality and real opinions rather than generic listicle vibes, this one delivers.

Kimberly Tate from StuffedSuitcase.com and Tamara Gruber from YourTimetoFly.com brought more than 40 years of combined travel expertise to this podcast, and it shows in every episode. Vacation Mavens ran for 270 episodes before the hosts wrapped things up in November 2025 to transition into travel advisory work. The back catalog remains a goldmine for vacation planners.

The show covered an impressive range of trip types. Family vacations to Disney and Alaska sat alongside cycling tours through Europe, multi-generational travel logistics, and couples getaways to Paris and Ecuador. Episodes typically ran 25 to 45 minutes, hitting a sweet spot where you get enough detail to actually plan something without losing your afternoon. Kim and Tamara frequently brought in guest experts for specialized topics like business class flight hacking and hotel selection strategies.

What made this podcast stand out was the practical specificity. The hosts didn't just tell you a destination was great; they told you which neighborhoods to stay in, which restaurants justified the splurge, and which tourist traps to skip entirely. The show earned a 4.7 rating from 110 reviews, with listeners praising the mix of storytelling and actionable advice. Even though the podcast is no longer producing new episodes, the archive covers enough destinations and travel scenarios that it remains genuinely useful. If you're planning a family trip or a mom's weekend away and want advice from hosts who've actually done both extensively, this catalog is worth browsing.

Danielle Desir Corbett built The Thought Card around a question most travel podcasts ignore: how do you actually afford all these trips? With 244 episodes released on a biweekly schedule since 2018, the show sits at the intersection of personal finance and vacation planning in a way that feels refreshingly honest rather than preachy.

Danielle's approach is warm and conversational. She talks about building vacation savings accounts, maximizing credit card rewards, finding affordable flights, and managing debt while still making room for travel. But she's not just a finance person who happens to travel. Episodes include detailed destination guides for places like Iceland, Paris, NYC, and Disney World, with specific cost breakdowns that help you figure out whether a trip actually fits your budget before you commit.

The show brings in guest experts from both the travel and finance worlds, and Danielle has a talent for asking the practical follow-up questions listeners actually want answered. How much did that hotel cost? Was the upgrade worth it? What would you do differently? The podcast holds a strong 4.8 rating from 87 reviews, with listeners consistently calling out Danielle's encouraging tone and the actionable nature of her advice.

Some episodes lean more heavily into money management systems than travel content, so if you're looking for pure wanderlust inspiration, you might occasionally need to skip around. But for anyone who's ever wanted to plan a great vacation without financial anxiety afterward, The Thought Card addresses that tension better than almost anything else in the travel podcast space.

Aaron Millar's Armchair Explorer is probably the most cinematic travel podcast you'll find. The New York Times called it "inspiring storytelling" and the Washington Post dubbed it "ear candy," and those aren't exaggerations. Each episode plays more like an audio documentary than a standard interview show, with on-location recordings that genuinely transport you to places like Botswana's Okavango Delta, the Navajo Nation, or a mountaineering expedition in the Himalayas.

The show has 190 episodes and a two-time Webby nomination for Best Society & Culture Podcast, which gives you a sense of the production quality. Episodes run 25 to 49 minutes and release weekly, blending immersive soundscapes with narrative storytelling that covers conservation, Indigenous cultures, nature exploration, and bucket-list adventure experiences. Aaron's hosting style is understated but effective. He lets the stories and the sounds do most of the heavy lifting.

This isn't really a "how to book cheap flights" podcast. It's the show you listen to when you want to feel the pull of a place before you decide to go there. The 4.8 rating from 208 reviews reflects an audience that appreciates the craft behind each episode. If you're planning a safari, considering a national park road trip, or just want to explore the world from your couch on a Tuesday evening, Armchair Explorer makes the experience feel surprisingly tangible. The combination of real audio from remote locations and thoughtful narration puts it in a category of its own among travel shows.

Jason Moore is a dual Norwegian-American citizen based in Oslo who spent over 15 years as a tour guide and digital nomad before settling down (sort of). Zero To Travel has racked up 302 episodes and more than 12 million downloads, earning "Best Travel Podcast" nods from The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, The Telegraph, and Forbes. That's a lot of validation for a show that started as one guy's attempt to share what he'd learned about long-term travel.

The podcast interviews travelers, entrepreneurs, and location-independent workers about everything from gap years and career breaks to starting online businesses that let you work from anywhere. Jason's sweet spot is the intersection of travel and lifestyle design. He covers slow travel, expat life, budget hacking, and off-the-beaten-path destinations with guests who've actually done these things rather than just theorized about them.

Episodes come out weekly and the format is straightforward interview-style, usually running 45 minutes to an hour. Jason brings genuine enthusiasm to every conversation, though some listeners note that his energy can occasionally overshadow his guests. The show holds a 4.6 rating from 797 reviews, which is solid for a catalog this size.

Zero To Travel hits differently depending on where you are in life. For someone dreaming about an extended trip or a remote work setup, it's incredibly motivating. For the weekend vacation planner, it's more aspirational than tactical. But even if you're just planning a two-week getaway, the destination episodes and travel hacking segments offer plenty of practical takeaways.

Travis Sherry has been called "Rick Steves for the new generation," and while that comparison is a stretch, it captures something true about Extra Pack of Peanuts. The show launched with a focus on budget travel, frequent flyer miles, and smart packing, and those early episodes remain some of the best resources out there for learning to travel affordably. With 493 episodes and an 855-review catalog on Apple Podcasts, the show has built a serious following.

Travis is a serial entrepreneur and world traveler who approaches vacation planning like a puzzle to be optimized. His interviews with travel personalities cover everything from credit card churning strategies to destination-specific budget tips. Year-in-review episodes are a listener favorite, breaking down the best meals, experiences, and travel stats from the previous twelve months with a level of detail that's genuinely helpful for trip planning.

Fair warning: the show has evolved significantly over the years. Recent episodes blend travel content with real estate investing discussions and lifestyle topics, which has split the audience. Long-time listeners who came for the miles-and-points breakdowns sometimes find themselves listening to property deal analysis instead. The 4.5 rating reflects this tension. That said, the travel-focused episodes are still excellent, and the back catalog is packed with budget strategies that haven't gone stale.

If you're specifically looking for ways to stretch your travel budget further, the earlier episodes and the dedicated budget travel segments are where this podcast really shines. Just be prepared for the occasional detour into real estate territory.

Bryan Murphy is a certified Hawaii travel expert with 30-plus visits to the islands and official training through the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. His podcast has 208 episodes and a near-perfect 4.9 rating from 271 reviews, making it the highest-rated destination-specific travel podcast you're likely to find.

Episodes run 11 to 30 minutes, which is refreshingly concise for a travel show. Bryan mixes solo episodes covering planning strategies and island itineraries with guest interviews featuring local residents, business owners, and cultural practitioners. His "Top 5 Experiences" breakdowns are particularly useful, separating free activities from paid ones so you can build an itinerary that matches your budget. Island-specific 7-day itineraries for Oahu, Kauai, and Maui give you a complete trip framework you can follow or customize.

What separates this show from generic Hawaii content is Bryan's commitment to cultural education. He weaves in Hawaiian language, traditions, and responsible tourism practices throughout episodes rather than treating them as afterthoughts. You'll learn about places and experiences that don't show up on the first page of a Google search, and you'll understand why certain sites matter to the local community.

The show updates weekly with fresh content for 2026 planning, including common travel mistakes, myth-busting episodes, and interviews that connect listeners to Hawaiian heritage. If Hawaii is on your vacation list, this podcast is essentially a free travel consultant. Even one or two episodes will save you from the overcrowded tourist trap itinerary most first-time visitors end up following.

Carolyn Schoenafinger has spent over 30 years exploring Switzerland, and her podcast distills all of that into 174 episodes of deeply specific planning advice. The show holds a 4.9 rating from 91 reviews, and it's easy to see why. If you're planning a Swiss vacation, this is the single most useful resource available in podcast form.

Episodes run 10 to 38 minutes and cover destinations like Zermatt, Interlaken, Zurich, and Grindelwald with the kind of granular detail that guidebooks struggle to match. Carolyn explains Swiss train travel logistics, breaks down realistic budgets, recommends specific restaurants, and walks you through packing lists tailored to Swiss weather patterns. Her multi-part "Four Steps to Planning Your Swiss Vacation" series functions as a complete trip-planning course.

The show regularly features guest interviews with local Swiss experts and travelers sharing firsthand experiences, which adds perspective beyond Carolyn's own. She covers seasonal content thoughtfully too, with episodes on Swiss Christmas traditions, winter activities, and summer hiking routes that help you decide when to go, not just where. Show notes for each episode include travel guides, booking links, and exclusive discounts on her companion website.

This is a niche podcast and it knows it. Carolyn isn't trying to cover 50 countries. She's trying to make sure your Switzerland trip is as good as it can possibly be, and that laser focus is exactly what makes the show valuable. For anyone considering a Swiss Alps getaway, a Zurich city break, or even just an extended train journey through the countryside, 30 minutes with this podcast will save you hours of scattered research.

Michele Schwartz runs Makin' Memories Travel Co. and brings that luxury travel agent perspective to every episode of Jet Setting With Me. The show has 146 episodes focused squarely on upscale vacation experiences for adult travelers, covering everything from set-jetting (visiting real-world locations from your favorite movies and shows) to wave season booking strategies and luxury resort comparisons.

Episodes are compact, running 9 to 33 minutes, which makes this an easy listen during a commute or lunch break. Michele's style is efficient and opinionated. She doesn't waste time building up to her recommendations. You'll get specific app suggestions for travel planning, honest vacation photography tips, spring break strategy for adults who don't want the college crowd experience, and jet lag management techniques that actually work.

The show's angle on set-jetting is genuinely unique in the travel podcast space. Michele connects entertainment to travel in a practical way, helping you build a trip around filming locations from shows you love. It's a fun hook that gives the podcast personality beyond standard travel advice. She also covers Disney experiences specifically geared toward adults without kids, which is a surprisingly underserved niche.

The 5.0 rating comes from a small review pool of about 10 ratings, so take that with appropriate context. But the content is consistently polished and useful, especially if your vacation budget skews toward the premium end. Michele clearly knows the luxury travel market well, and her insider perspective on booking timing, upgrade strategies, and curated experiences makes this worth following for anyone planning a high-end getaway.

Al Philogene founded Island Vacation Travel Agency and brings that professional background to a podcast focused on Caribbean and Central Florida travel connections. With 72 episodes covering cruise recommendations, business travel, destination guides, and cultural experiences, the show occupies a specific niche that's hard to find elsewhere.

Episodes range from 15 to 65 minutes and release weekly. Al's format varies between solo commentary and guest interviews, covering topics like bucket-list Caribbean cruises, 2026 travel trends, corporate team retreat planning, and practical advice on managing travel expenses. The business travel angle sets this apart from most vacation podcasts. Al doesn't just talk about where to go for fun; he also addresses how to make work trips more enjoyable and how to tack personal vacation time onto business travel.

The Caribbean cultural content is a real strength. Al goes beyond the resort experience to discuss local traditions, food, and community in ways that help listeners connect with destinations on a deeper level. His episodes on hidden Caribbean spots and off-the-resort experiences are particularly worthwhile if you've done the all-inclusive thing and want something more authentic.

The show is still growing its audience, with a small review count on Apple Podcasts but a perfect 5.0 rating from those who have reviewed it. Al's delivery is relaxed and knowledgeable, like getting travel advice from a well-connected friend who happens to run a travel agency. For anyone planning a Caribbean cruise, a Florida-Caribbean combination trip, or even a corporate retreat in a warm-weather destination, this podcast offers perspective you won't find on the bigger travel shows.

Kate's Family Vacation Podcast takes a different approach than most travel shows. Instead of positioning herself as an expert, she highlights real families sharing honest trip reports from their actual vacations. The result is 27 episodes that feel more like getting recommendations from your neighbor than listening to a travel influencer pitch their latest sponsored destination.

Episodes run 12 to 50 minutes and cover destinations like Asheville, Nashville, Leesburg, and Yellowstone alongside practical topics such as Disney with toddlers, road trip entertainment for kids, and how to use travel points effectively for family trips. Kate also tackles the financial side of family travel with budgeting hacks and rewards optimization strategies that acknowledge the reality of traveling with children on a real-world income.

The show has a clever mix of destination content and lifestyle topics. One episode might break down a language immersion vacation while the next examines how Instagram influences family travel planning decisions. There's a vacation style assessment episode that helps you figure out what kind of traveler you actually are before you start booking, which is genuinely useful for families who end up miserable because they planned the wrong type of trip.

The catalog is small at 27 episodes, but the 4.8 rating from 10 reviews suggests the audience that found it appreciates the authentic, no-nonsense approach. Kate brings guest bloggers and travel experts on regularly, keeping the perspectives fresh. For parents specifically trying to plan vacations that work for the whole family without losing their minds in the process, this podcast speaks directly to that experience.