January 13, 2025 • 19 mins
2024 was filled with memorable travel experiences, from top hotels and flights to unforgettable vacations. The episode focuses on sharing the best moments, while highlighting family-friendly options and personal favorites that made the year special.
• Best couple's hotel at the Kempton Seafire in Grand Cayman
• Top family hotel was the Park Hyatt Aviara
• Most memorable flight on Air France from Paris to Phoenix
• Overall favorite vacation revealed to be the trip to Grand Cayman
• Reflecting on childhood memories in Japan
• Excitement for upcoming trips planned in 2025
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, friends, today's episode is going to be our best
of 2024.
So think best hotel, bestflight, favorite destination,
favorite credit card, and so on.
So happy new year and listen in.
Hi, I'm Raya.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
And I'm Dwayne.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And we are your hosts of the Travel Party of Five
podcast, where we share how wetravel as a family of five
around the world.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We will also share how we use points and miles to
travel as affordably as possibleand sometimes even completely
free.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So if you're wanting to travel more with your family
but you're not sure how, we'dlove for you to listen in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So welcome to our podcast, where we hope you learn
a thing or two to get youcloser to your next trip.
Hi friends, happy New Year,happy New Year, welcome back,
welcome back.
Travel Party of Five podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Hi friends, happy new year.
Happy new year welcome back.
Welcome back Travel Party ofFive podcast Clocking in for
another year around the sun.
Yes, so we are going to coverin today's episode our best of
2024.
And we're a couple weeks intoJanuary, so hopefully people are
not sick of 2024 yet.
And so we're going to do thingslike best hotel we stayed at,
(01:28):
best card we think we opened,and that kind of thing.
Dwayne isn't super prepped forthis episode.
I don't think he's had muchtime to think about it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I'm never prepped for any episode.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
That's also fair.
Okay, so let's jump in.
I'm going to ask you first sowhat do you think your best
hotel of 2024 was that we stayedin?
And I think let's separate itfrom trips that you and I went
on without the kids and thenalso do a family one, so do like
a couple's hotel and a familyhotel.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Definitely couple's hotel was the Kempton Seafire in
the Grand Cayman.
Yes, that was my view.
Yes, just a beautiful property,wonderful service, I mean great
location.
It was our first time there soI mean that might play a role in
that, but I mean it wasbeautiful.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
The service was unlike anything that we've ever
had at any Hyatt, and so it'sfunny, because we have
predominantly stayed at Hyatt'sthis year or last year rather
Well, and this year too we will,but yet our favorite hotel was
an IHG property.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yes, I mean, it was phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, that was.
That was my favorite too.
For couples.
Um well, okay, what would yousay for families?
Did I tell you mine already?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
or no, your family.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Yeah, did I tell you mine.
Don't say it if I didn't know.
Okay, good, I want to see ifwe'll say the same thing I mean
I have probably two top ones.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Okay, uh, would be the park hyatt aviara um and the
Grand Hyatt in Kauai.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Oh, okay, yeah, Mine was the Park Hyatt Aviara, also
for families.
That was a surprise to meactually.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, because typically, though, the Park
Hyatts are known to be, you know, the top end, and this one is
top end.
I mean, yeah, it was Again.
That was also a beautifulproperty and the service there
was pretty good too.
It was yeah.
I think, I mean that wasprobably second on my list in
2024.
Kempton and then the Park Hyatt.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Well, okay, so tell what you loved about the Grand
Hyatt Kauai.
By the way, we have episodes onall of these trips and
vacations with a lot more depth,so we won't go super in-depth
here.
If you want to listen, you cango back and find them.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I mean the Grand Hyatt, kauai.
It was just perfect forfamilies.
It was a huge property, hugepool, a separate beachy area.
What was it?
You mean like the lagoon?
Oh yeah, the beachy area?
What?
Speaker 1 (04:08):
was it?
You mean like the lagoon?
Oh yeah, the lagoon.
There was a beach, but thewaves were too.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, the beach is not swimmable there.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
It's swimmable if you're, maybe if you're an adult
yes, and an expert swimmer.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I mean every.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
There were so many people surfing and boogie
boarding the flags were redalmost every day we were there
so so I wouldn't take your kidsin there because the currents
are super strong.
But they built this lagoon arearight behind the beach to kind
of make up for the fact that youcan't swim in the beach and it
has sand and stuff.
(04:36):
Yeah, mine was the Park HyattAviara, the Park Hyatt Aviara.
I liked the Grand Hyatt Kauaitoo, but the Aviara was a
surprise to me because I didn'texpect it to be so family
friendly, I think, and there wasa ton of families and a ton of
kids A ton of families, and sothat was my best family one In a
(04:59):
great location.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
They had a great pool .
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yep, they had a few water slides.
Really good service.
They do turndown service, whichwas extra fun for the kids.
So you know they like set outyour slippers and they'll bring
you little chocolates, and thatwas a good time.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yes, very good time.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Okay, so the next one is best flight of 2024 and I
know mine, but I think all yourswere roughly the same.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
But you can I mean, I excuse me, I don't even know
which flight was the best likeyou don't?
Speaker 1 (05:33):
yeah, like I'm pretty sure every flight you were on
this year was southwest, likewhich is yes, it was definitely
southwest.
Yeah, every time um, mine wasthe my air france flight from
paris back to phoenix, where Iupgraded to business class.
So, um, I have a whole episodeon it if you want to go back and
(05:54):
listen.
But essentially we had bookedeconomy tickets from paris
direct to phoenix.
They they have a new nonstopflight as of summer 2024.
Thank you, olympics.
Hopefully it sticks.
And we paid 20,000 points oneway per person in economy and I
(06:14):
was flying.
I was traveling with my mom backfrom our girls trip earlier
this or earlier last year and Ipaid $900 to upgrade on the 11
hour flight to business classand it was worth every cent that
I paid.
Um, and it was the only reasonI was able to do that is because
it was just me.
(06:34):
If it had been all five of us,there's no way I would have paid
$4,500 plus no way.
There probably wasn't fiveseats available for upgrades
anyway.
So, but that was by far myfavorite flight.
It was my first time in businessclass and it was a really nice
way to travel after runningaround Paris in the cold and
(06:58):
rain for three days, plus Italybefore that I know everyone
talks about.
You should fly business classfrom the US to Europe because
it's an overnight flight and youcan sleep, but I kind of prefer
it the other way, becauseyou're awake for the entire
flight, which means you get toenjoy it the entire time, and I
did.
I had all the coffees and hotchocolates and snacks and meals
(07:22):
and I watched like a 10 episodeminiseries, subtitled in English
because it was in French.
That was really good.
Actually it was.
I have fond memories of thatflight 10 episodes is a lot.
Well, I was literally an 11 hourflight, so, and I was awake the
whole time.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
so, yeah, that would be my best flight, um, okay,
best overall vacation I mean,all of our vacations are pretty
good until the kids get sick.
Oh god, stress, um again.
It would have to be the grandcayman, because it was just you
and I.
Yeah, it was very, very relaxingit was the only trip of 2024
(08:02):
that felt like a vacation yes,and if you didn't listen to the
previous episode on it, we hadonly one thing planned, yeah,
and that was an excursion to thebioluminescence bay or whatever
.
So it was very relaxing, veryneeded.
Yes, yeah, low key.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, we literally ate food.
Sat on the beach, had somecocktails, ate some more food.
I got a massage.
Dwayne rode a jet ski.
Yeah, we really didn't do much.
It was very, very nice.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Watching basketball games at the pool bar.
It was a great time.
Oh, I watched the Olympics atthe bar.
That's what it was.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
It was a great time.
Um, oh, I watched olympics atthe bar.
That's what it was, not.
Yeah, do.
Do you have a favorite familyvacation that we took?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
um again, the park aviara, the time in california.
We always have a good time incalifornia.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
We yeah, we were there for seven days or seven
nights.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I think we love California um, especially San
Diego and Oceanside well, we'llremember.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Okay, so remember, we did Costa Rica oh yeah, I
forgot Costa Rica and Kauai.
So do you have a favoriteamongst those to those um, I
mean again, all our vacationsare are great.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
You plan them out well.
Um, but you know costa rica.
We had an unfortunate eventwhere one of our kids had to go
to the hospital.
Yeah, um, and then kawaii, ouryoungest one, got sick.
So you were in the hotel roomfor two days, while the boys and
I just hung out at the pool anddrove around that yeah drove
(09:44):
around the island one day.
Um, but yeah, I mean other thanthat, I don't know a favorite,
probably costa rica, becausewe've never been yeah, I would.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I would say, mine is probably also costa rica, but
specifically the la fortuna, ofcourse, costa Rica, which we
were there for three nights andour son got sick in the
beginning part, which was wewere in Manuel Antonio, so the
La Fortuna part.
I really enjoyed that.
(10:17):
That was where we had the hotsprings and we stayed in an
Airbnb that was inside a hotel.
The hotel was called Los Lagos,which has a ton of hot springs,
so we got to use theiramenities for free, so hot
springs and pools at no charge.
They also had, obviously, food,restaurants and stuff that you
could eat at.
Obviously that's not free, butwe enjoyed eating there a few
(10:40):
days.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, that property was also very was very nice very
nice yep yeah, um is there.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Do you think there's an underrated or overrated place
?
We stayed in 2020, 2024, Idon't think there's any
overrated um.
I mean, I don't I'm gonna give ahot take here and maybe, like
before I say this, I just keepin mind that we had a sick kid
on this trip and it wasincredibly stressful for me in
(11:09):
particular.
So I think the Grand HyattKauai is a little overrated A
little.
I think it's a great hotel forfamilies, but it's not really
near a lot of things.
You have to do a lot of driving, yeah, and I just like, if we
(11:32):
were going to go back to Hawaii,I would go back to Maui.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah, but excuse me, kauai, anywhere in Kauai you
have to drive.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I mean, I know, I just I think your expectations
were.
Too high maybe.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
That could be.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And the fact that Maui, everything was right there
, yes, and the fact that maui,everything was right there, like
I mean, except for the road tohana, and but we were in a
vicinity where everything wasnearby.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
That's true, yeah, but anywhere in kawaii, if you
stay in you have to drive yeah,you have to drive, you have to
have a car the difference iswhen you drive in maui, there's,
like it, really beautiful.
You're driving along the coast,the views are stunning, and
when we were driving in Kauai,most of the time you're driving
in the middle of the island andso there's cornfields and stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
And trees, Unique trees though.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yes, I mean, it's not ugly, certainly, but I think I
was expecting Kauai to be myfavorite Hawaiian island and it
is not so far.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I think people that choose Kauai as their favorite
island choose it because it'sless touristy.
It is that that's true A lot ofthe other islands, yep.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Yep, that's true.
Okay, well, one last questionwhat are you most like?
What trip are you most lookingforward to in 2025?
Or, I guess, maybe not a trip,if there's something else, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Oh no, it's definitely a trip.
It's back to the motherland,japan.
Yes, super excited for that.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
For those that don't know, or maybe our new listeners
, dwayne grew up in Japan, sohis dad was in the army, and so
he grew up on a military baseright outside of Tokyo.
And you were there.
From what age?
Until you graduated high school.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
From 87 to 99.
So I graduated high school in99.
So seven to 11 or seven to 18.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
graduated high school in 99, so 7 to 11 or 7 to 18.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Age 7 to 18, yeah, and you have like really fond
memories of it.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
But best times wouldn't change my childhood for
like.
Describe in like a coupleminutes like what was it like
growing up in japan, in like,near such a huge city?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
um, I mean, it was great, the friendships I made
there I still have today.
My best friend today is, youknow, someone I met in japan,
but I do regret not taking inthe culture you know, because I
was young and dumb and yeahwanted to have fun instead of
(14:13):
appreciate where it was that Iwas at yeah, it's almost like
you didn't appreciate it untilyou were gone, right, yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
but just put like this I took spanish in high
school instead of japanese, likeyeah but your parents like an
idiot your parents would just Imean, part of it was the time
right, it was the 90s.
But also japan is a very safecountry super safe your parents
would just let you like.
(14:40):
You would leave the house inthe morning and you'd be gone
all day all day and they wouldhave no idea.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Where was that, you know, because this was before
pagers and cell phones.
But but I did have a cell phoneat age what I was like 15.
So that was like 95.
That's early for that timeframe.
Well, Japan was, you know, 10years ahead of the US in
technology.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So, but you okay, so you would like go into Tokyo
sometimes, right?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
We'd go into Tokyo, take the train and we would go
in.
You know other smaller citieslike Machida, and yeah, right,
we're going to tokyo, take thetrain and we would go.
And you know other smallercities like machida, and yeah,
we would go to yokohama, wewould ride bikes everywhere yeah
, how old were you taking thejet, the train, just like 13, 14
, 15, 16, you know it's justwild to me.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Yeah, meanwhile, I grew up in a very tiny town with
what literally one stopstoplight.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Population 600 people yes, I've been there and it was
complete opposite end of thespectrum to what I was to what
you grew up.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, yeah, um, so that okay, yeah, that is.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I'm also looking forward to japan a lot um, but I
, we're also going to Europetwice.
It's also up there because I'venever been to Europe and we're
going twice next year, soexcited for that too.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah, I'm also super excited for Japan.
I think, probably, if I had topick a trip I'm most looking
forward to, it's the Christmasmarkets.
Oh, by the way, we booked atrip to the Christmas markets in
the last couple weeks for nextbeginning of December 2025.
That was kind of impromptu andspur of the moment, and so all
(16:22):
five of us are going.
I think maybe we'll talk moreabout that in our next episode,
because next episode, next week,will be like what's coming in
2025, but I think that'sprobably the one I'm looking
forward to.
Um, I am also really lookingforward to japan, though, like
because that's some that will becompletely different from
(16:43):
anything I've ever experiencedbefore, and I'm really excited
for all the food and all thatfun stuff 7-Eleven.
Yeah, yeah, it'll be nice to putlike I mean, dwayne's been
talking about Japan since we metand that's been like 13 years
(17:03):
ago, so I'd be excited tofinally get to experience it, so
that'll be good.
But since you said Japan, I'mnot going to say that and I will
say Christmas markets.
The Christmas markets have beenon my list, like my bucket
travel list, for years and years, like a long time right, very
long Since way before we startedusing points and miles.
(17:25):
It's just tricky becausethere's only like a month-ish of
the year where you can go tothem.
And I don't much enjoytraveling during the holidays
because I like to decorate thehouse and you know we do fun
holiday things on the weekends,like bake cookies and go see
Christmas lights and all that,and that takes a lot of time, so
I prefer not to travel duringthat time.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
But I mean I just I'm just dreading the cold.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
It's going to be cold , the frigid temperatures.
Yeah, I'll be stockpiling warmweather gear for us over the
next 10, 11 months.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Yeah, I mean, it's 50 degrees in Arizona right now.
We're starting fires in ourfireplace.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
It's chilly, okay, well, good.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
I think we had a really good 2024.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
We did a lot of very grateful for that.
Yeah, a lot of trips, a lot ofa lot of memories made um, but I
think 2025 might be even better.
We've got some big trips thisyear so yes we're really looking
forward to it.
We obviously will bring youalong for all the trips we take
and all the fun recaps that wetalk about.
So we will catch you in thenext episode and, until then,
(18:41):
hope you have a great new year.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Yes, hopefully it's off to a great start.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yeah, we'll catch you on the next one.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Have a good one.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Bye.
Hi, friends, today's episode is going to be our best
of 2024.
So think best hotel, bestflight, favorite destination,
favorite credit card, and so on.
So happy new year and listen in.
Hi, I'm Raya.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
And I'm Dwayne.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And we are your hosts of the Travel Party of Five
podcast, where we share how wetravel as a family of five
around the world.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We will also share how we use points and miles to
travel as affordably as possibleand sometimes even completely
free.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So if you're wanting to travel more with your family
but you're not sure how, we'dlove for you to listen in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So welcome to our podcast, where we hope you learn
a thing or two to get youcloser to your next trip.
Hi friends, happy New Year,happy New Year, welcome back,
welcome back.
Travel Party of Five podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Hi friends, happy new year.
Happy new year welcome back.
Welcome back Travel Party ofFive podcast Clocking in for
another year around the sun.
Yes, so we are going to coverin today's episode our best of
2024.
And we're a couple weeks intoJanuary, so hopefully people are
not sick of 2024 yet.
And so we're going to do thingslike best hotel we stayed at,
(01:28):
best card we think we opened,and that kind of thing.
Dwayne isn't super prepped forthis episode.
I don't think he's had muchtime to think about it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I'm never prepped for any episode.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
That's also fair.
Okay, so let's jump in.
I'm going to ask you first sowhat do you think your best
hotel of 2024 was that we stayedin?
And I think let's separate itfrom trips that you and I went
on without the kids and thenalso do a family one, so do like
a couple's hotel and a familyhotel.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Definitely couple's hotel was the Kempton Seafire in
the Grand Cayman.
Yes, that was my view.
Yes, just a beautiful property,wonderful service, I mean great
location.
It was our first time there soI mean that might play a role in
that, but I mean it wasbeautiful.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
The service was unlike anything that we've ever
had at any Hyatt, and so it'sfunny, because we have
predominantly stayed at Hyatt'sthis year or last year rather
Well, and this year too we will,but yet our favorite hotel was
an IHG property.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yes, I mean, it was phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, that was.
That was my favorite too.
For couples.
Um well, okay, what would yousay for families?
Did I tell you mine already?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
or no, your family.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Yeah, did I tell you mine.
Don't say it if I didn't know.
Okay, good, I want to see ifwe'll say the same thing I mean
I have probably two top ones.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Okay, uh, would be the park hyatt aviara um and the
Grand Hyatt in Kauai.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Oh, okay, yeah, Mine was the Park Hyatt Aviara, also
for families.
That was a surprise to meactually.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, because typically, though, the Park
Hyatts are known to be, you know, the top end, and this one is
top end.
I mean, yeah, it was Again.
That was also a beautifulproperty and the service there
was pretty good too.
It was yeah.
I think, I mean that wasprobably second on my list in
2024.
Kempton and then the Park Hyatt.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Well, okay, so tell what you loved about the Grand
Hyatt Kauai.
By the way, we have episodes onall of these trips and
vacations with a lot more depth,so we won't go super in-depth
here.
If you want to listen, you cango back and find them.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I mean the Grand Hyatt, kauai.
It was just perfect forfamilies.
It was a huge property, hugepool, a separate beachy area.
What was it?
You mean like the lagoon?
Oh yeah, the beachy area?
What?
Speaker 1 (04:08):
was it?
You mean like the lagoon?
Oh yeah, the lagoon.
There was a beach, but thewaves were too.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, the beach is not swimmable there.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
It's swimmable if you're, maybe if you're an adult
yes, and an expert swimmer.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I mean every.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
There were so many people surfing and boogie
boarding the flags were redalmost every day we were there
so so I wouldn't take your kidsin there because the currents
are super strong.
But they built this lagoon arearight behind the beach to kind
of make up for the fact that youcan't swim in the beach and it
has sand and stuff.
(04:36):
Yeah, mine was the Park HyattAviara, the Park Hyatt Aviara.
I liked the Grand Hyatt Kauaitoo, but the Aviara was a
surprise to me because I didn'texpect it to be so family
friendly, I think, and there wasa ton of families and a ton of
kids A ton of families, and sothat was my best family one In a
(04:59):
great location.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
They had a great pool .
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yep, they had a few water slides.
Really good service.
They do turndown service, whichwas extra fun for the kids.
So you know they like set outyour slippers and they'll bring
you little chocolates, and thatwas a good time.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yes, very good time.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Okay, so the next one is best flight of 2024 and I
know mine, but I think all yourswere roughly the same.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
But you can I mean, I excuse me, I don't even know
which flight was the best likeyou don't?
Speaker 1 (05:33):
yeah, like I'm pretty sure every flight you were on
this year was southwest, likewhich is yes, it was definitely
southwest.
Yeah, every time um, mine wasthe my air france flight from
paris back to phoenix, where Iupgraded to business class.
So, um, I have a whole episodeon it if you want to go back and
(05:54):
listen.
But essentially we had bookedeconomy tickets from paris
direct to phoenix.
They they have a new nonstopflight as of summer 2024.
Thank you, olympics.
Hopefully it sticks.
And we paid 20,000 points oneway per person in economy and I
(06:14):
was flying.
I was traveling with my mom backfrom our girls trip earlier
this or earlier last year and Ipaid $900 to upgrade on the 11
hour flight to business classand it was worth every cent that
I paid.
Um, and it was the only reasonI was able to do that is because
it was just me.
(06:34):
If it had been all five of us,there's no way I would have paid
$4,500 plus no way.
There probably wasn't fiveseats available for upgrades
anyway.
So, but that was by far myfavorite flight.
It was my first time in businessclass and it was a really nice
way to travel after runningaround Paris in the cold and
(06:58):
rain for three days, plus Italybefore that I know everyone
talks about.
You should fly business classfrom the US to Europe because
it's an overnight flight and youcan sleep, but I kind of prefer
it the other way, becauseyou're awake for the entire
flight, which means you get toenjoy it the entire time, and I
did.
I had all the coffees and hotchocolates and snacks and meals
(07:22):
and I watched like a 10 episodeminiseries, subtitled in English
because it was in French.
That was really good.
Actually it was.
I have fond memories of thatflight 10 episodes is a lot.
Well, I was literally an 11 hourflight, so, and I was awake the
whole time.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
so, yeah, that would be my best flight, um, okay,
best overall vacation I mean,all of our vacations are pretty
good until the kids get sick.
Oh god, stress, um again.
It would have to be the grandcayman, because it was just you
and I.
Yeah, it was very, very relaxingit was the only trip of 2024
(08:02):
that felt like a vacation yes,and if you didn't listen to the
previous episode on it, we hadonly one thing planned, yeah,
and that was an excursion to thebioluminescence bay or whatever
.
So it was very relaxing, veryneeded.
Yes, yeah, low key.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, we literally ate food.
Sat on the beach, had somecocktails, ate some more food.
I got a massage.
Dwayne rode a jet ski.
Yeah, we really didn't do much.
It was very, very nice.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Watching basketball games at the pool bar.
It was a great time.
Oh, I watched the Olympics atthe bar.
That's what it was.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
It was a great time.
Um, oh, I watched olympics atthe bar.
That's what it was, not.
Yeah, do.
Do you have a favorite familyvacation that we took?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
um again, the park aviara, the time in california.
We always have a good time incalifornia.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
We yeah, we were there for seven days or seven
nights.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I think we love California um, especially San
Diego and Oceanside well, we'llremember.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Okay, so remember, we did Costa Rica oh yeah, I
forgot Costa Rica and Kauai.
So do you have a favoriteamongst those to those um, I
mean again, all our vacationsare are great.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
You plan them out well.
Um, but you know costa rica.
We had an unfortunate eventwhere one of our kids had to go
to the hospital.
Yeah, um, and then kawaii, ouryoungest one, got sick.
So you were in the hotel roomfor two days, while the boys and
I just hung out at the pool anddrove around that yeah drove
(09:44):
around the island one day.
Um, but yeah, I mean other thanthat, I don't know a favorite,
probably costa rica, becausewe've never been yeah, I would.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I would say, mine is probably also costa rica, but
specifically the la fortuna, ofcourse, costa Rica, which we
were there for three nights andour son got sick in the
beginning part, which was wewere in Manuel Antonio, so the
La Fortuna part.
I really enjoyed that.
(10:17):
That was where we had the hotsprings and we stayed in an
Airbnb that was inside a hotel.
The hotel was called Los Lagos,which has a ton of hot springs,
so we got to use theiramenities for free, so hot
springs and pools at no charge.
They also had, obviously, food,restaurants and stuff that you
could eat at.
Obviously that's not free, butwe enjoyed eating there a few
(10:40):
days.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, that property was also very was very nice very
nice yep yeah, um is there.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Do you think there's an underrated or overrated place
?
We stayed in 2020, 2024, Idon't think there's any
overrated um.
I mean, I don't I'm gonna give ahot take here and maybe, like
before I say this, I just keepin mind that we had a sick kid
on this trip and it wasincredibly stressful for me in
(11:09):
particular.
So I think the Grand HyattKauai is a little overrated A
little.
I think it's a great hotel forfamilies, but it's not really
near a lot of things.
You have to do a lot of driving, yeah, and I just like, if we
(11:32):
were going to go back to Hawaii,I would go back to Maui.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah, but excuse me, kauai, anywhere in Kauai you
have to drive.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I mean, I know, I just I think your expectations
were.
Too high maybe.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
That could be.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And the fact that Maui, everything was right there
, yes, and the fact that maui,everything was right there, like
I mean, except for the road tohana, and but we were in a
vicinity where everything wasnearby.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
That's true, yeah, but anywhere in kawaii, if you
stay in you have to drive yeah,you have to drive, you have to
have a car the difference iswhen you drive in maui, there's,
like it, really beautiful.
You're driving along the coast,the views are stunning, and
when we were driving in Kauai,most of the time you're driving
in the middle of the island andso there's cornfields and stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
And trees, Unique trees though.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yes, I mean, it's not ugly, certainly, but I think I
was expecting Kauai to be myfavorite Hawaiian island and it
is not so far.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I think people that choose Kauai as their favorite
island choose it because it'sless touristy.
It is that that's true A lot ofthe other islands, yep.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Yep, that's true.
Okay, well, one last questionwhat are you most like?
What trip are you most lookingforward to in 2025?
Or, I guess, maybe not a trip,if there's something else, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Oh no, it's definitely a trip.
It's back to the motherland,japan.
Yes, super excited for that.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
For those that don't know, or maybe our new listeners
, dwayne grew up in Japan, sohis dad was in the army, and so
he grew up on a military baseright outside of Tokyo.
And you were there.
From what age?
Until you graduated high school.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
From 87 to 99.
So I graduated high school in99.
So seven to 11 or seven to 18.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
graduated high school in 99, so 7 to 11 or 7 to 18.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Age 7 to 18, yeah, and you have like really fond
memories of it.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
But best times wouldn't change my childhood for
like.
Describe in like a coupleminutes like what was it like
growing up in japan, in like,near such a huge city?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
um, I mean, it was great, the friendships I made
there I still have today.
My best friend today is, youknow, someone I met in japan,
but I do regret not taking inthe culture you know, because I
was young and dumb and yeahwanted to have fun instead of
(14:13):
appreciate where it was that Iwas at yeah, it's almost like
you didn't appreciate it untilyou were gone, right, yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
but just put like this I took spanish in high
school instead of japanese, likeyeah but your parents like an
idiot your parents would just Imean, part of it was the time
right, it was the 90s.
But also japan is a very safecountry super safe your parents
would just let you like.
(14:40):
You would leave the house inthe morning and you'd be gone
all day all day and they wouldhave no idea.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Where was that, you know, because this was before
pagers and cell phones.
But but I did have a cell phoneat age what I was like 15.
So that was like 95.
That's early for that timeframe.
Well, Japan was, you know, 10years ahead of the US in
technology.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So, but you okay, so you would like go into Tokyo
sometimes, right?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
We'd go into Tokyo, take the train and we would go
in.
You know other smaller citieslike Machida, and yeah, right,
we're going to tokyo, take thetrain and we would go.
And you know other smallercities like machida, and yeah,
we would go to yokohama, wewould ride bikes everywhere yeah
, how old were you taking thejet, the train, just like 13, 14
, 15, 16, you know it's justwild to me.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Yeah, meanwhile, I grew up in a very tiny town with
what literally one stopstoplight.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Population 600 people yes, I've been there and it was
complete opposite end of thespectrum to what I was to what
you grew up.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, yeah, um, so that okay, yeah, that is.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I'm also looking forward to japan a lot um, but I
, we're also going to Europetwice.
It's also up there because I'venever been to Europe and we're
going twice next year, soexcited for that too.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah, I'm also super excited for Japan.
I think, probably, if I had topick a trip I'm most looking
forward to, it's the Christmasmarkets.
Oh, by the way, we booked atrip to the Christmas markets in
the last couple weeks for nextbeginning of December 2025.
That was kind of impromptu andspur of the moment, and so all
(16:22):
five of us are going.
I think maybe we'll talk moreabout that in our next episode,
because next episode, next week,will be like what's coming in
2025, but I think that'sprobably the one I'm looking
forward to.
Um, I am also really lookingforward to japan, though, like
because that's some that will becompletely different from
(16:43):
anything I've ever experiencedbefore, and I'm really excited
for all the food and all thatfun stuff 7-Eleven.
Yeah, yeah, it'll be nice to putlike I mean, dwayne's been
talking about Japan since we metand that's been like 13 years
(17:03):
ago, so I'd be excited tofinally get to experience it, so
that'll be good.
But since you said Japan, I'mnot going to say that and I will
say Christmas markets.
The Christmas markets have beenon my list, like my bucket
travel list, for years and years, like a long time right, very
long Since way before we startedusing points and miles.
(17:25):
It's just tricky becausethere's only like a month-ish of
the year where you can go tothem.
And I don't much enjoytraveling during the holidays
because I like to decorate thehouse and you know we do fun
holiday things on the weekends,like bake cookies and go see
Christmas lights and all that,and that takes a lot of time, so
I prefer not to travel duringthat time.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
But I mean I just I'm just dreading the cold.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
It's going to be cold , the frigid temperatures.
Yeah, I'll be stockpiling warmweather gear for us over the
next 10, 11 months.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Yeah, I mean, it's 50 degrees in Arizona right now.
We're starting fires in ourfireplace.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
It's chilly, okay, well, good.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
I think we had a really good 2024.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
We did a lot of very grateful for that.
Yeah, a lot of trips, a lot ofa lot of memories made um, but I
think 2025 might be even better.
We've got some big trips thisyear so yes we're really looking
forward to it.
We obviously will bring youalong for all the trips we take
and all the fun recaps that wetalk about.
So we will catch you in thenext episode and, until then,
(18:41):
hope you have a great new year.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Yes, hopefully it's off to a great start.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yeah, we'll catch you on the next one.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Have a good one.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Bye.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.