Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

TravelStories Episode 43: End of Summer Travel

Oct 17, 2024

As summer bids farewell, the hosts share their travel tales, including an adventurous Carnival cruise and a subpar experience at Cap Cana. Thomas reveals why he chose Carnival over his usual Royal Caribbean, delicious dining options aboard, and the challenges of cruising—like getting seasick! Trevor reflects on declining service at the resort, hinting he may not return. They also discuss insights from a major travel seminar, offering tips for maximizing both fun and value in future travels.

53:30

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Quick takeaways

Thomas's recent cruise on Carnival Mardi Gras surpassed his dining expectations despite some issues with crowd management and service quality.

Trevor's final experience in Cap Cana highlighted the significant decline in service quality compared to his previous visits, affecting overall enjoyment.

Utilizing discounted gift cards from AARP and platforms like Newegg can enhance travelers' entertainment experiences while managing gambling expenses effectively.

Deep dives

Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

Using AARP and platforms like Newegg for discounted gift cards is a smart strategy for travelers, especially those planning to gamble during their trips. These discounts help mitigate losses at casinos, making the experience less painful financially. It's a practical approach to enjoying entertainment while keeping expenses manageable. This tactic can be particularly useful for those not wanting to overspend initially, allowing for a more enjoyable gambling experience.

Intro

2min

Cruise Chronicles: Experiences and Insights

4min

Cruising Through Culinary and Casino Experiences

13min

Carnival Cruises: Efficiency and Challenges

5min

Service Slips at Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

14min

Networking and Insights from the Chicago Seminar

12min

Community Engagement and Upcoming Charity Events

3min

Episode 43: Show Notes.

As we wave goodbye to summer, Thomas and Trevor walk us through their most recent end-of-season trips: A Carnival cruise and a forgettable Cap Cana experience. We begin with Thomas and his trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras, where he explains why he chose Carnival over his trusted Royal Caribbean. Thomas details his itinerary and vacation experience, why the casual dining options were better than expected, how the floating casino and overall entertainment could be improved, and the perils of getting sick on the open sea. Next, Trevor picks up the baton and explains why his most recent Cap Cana trip may be his last. We discover how his previous visits to the resort influenced his most recent one and the stress of traveling out of Punta Cana. To end, Thomas unpacks his experience at the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars for miles and points.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00] How Thomas cheated on Royal Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines.
[04:30] Diving deeper into his itinerary and vacation experience aboard Carnival Mardi Gras.
[07:45] Exploring the food, cabin layout, and onboard entertainment on Carnival Mardi Gras.
[13:55] The value of having great casual dining options on a cruise ship.
[15:43] Floating gambling on Labor Day and some tips for a better experience.
[21:32] Getting sick on the open sea.
[22:50] What Thomas thinks about Carnival overall after his experience.
[23:59] Why Trevor’s Cap Cana days may be coming to an end.
[29:08] Dining gems that give Cap Cana a lifeline and make it a destination worth returning to.
[32:04] How Trevor’s previous trips to Cap Cana influenced his most recent experience.
[34:18] Why it’s rare to find high-quality all-inclusive land packages.
[35:45] Trevor details the challenges of traveling from Punta Cana.
[38:10] The ins and outs of the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars attended by Thomas.
[43:04] Why big travel events are on the decline to make room for smaller ones.

Quotes:

“If I were doing my fun-match again, I would definitely recommend that you pick one of these newer ships, because I think that’s going to give you your best foot forward for Carnival.” — @TktweetsKim [06:02]

“This was the only cruise I’ve ever been on where I’ve been woken up at 1:30 in the morning with an abandon ship alarm. — We did actually have a false alarm go off in the middle of the night, people were quite distressed.” — @TktweetsKim [19:58]

“It’s hard to go on vacation and have it be so frictionless on your way home. You do your best in planning to make that happen, but I think the reality is you’re always going to have some grating experience trying to get from the resort back to your home.” — @TktweetsKim [37:42]

“There’s always something nice about being able to get up in front of a bunch of people and talk about something that you love.” — @tmount [39:52]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Hyatt Regency Chicago

The 14th Annual Chicago Seminars

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X