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Sunshine Travelers Podcast

Sunshine Travelers Podcast

Written by: Scott and Melissa Barronton
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About this listen

 Real Travel Tips, Bucket List Inspiration, and the Confidence to Book the Trip and Go! Ready to travel more and better? The Sunshine Travelers Podcast is your go-to travel podcast for real-world travel tips, inspiring stories, and expert guidance to help you plan extraordinary trips, with less stress and more joy. Hosted by real travelers Scott and Melissa Barronton, this podcast is built for midlife travelers and couples looking to finally take that dream trip—whether it’s a luxury safari in Kenya, a scenic train journey or walk through Europe, a coastal road trip in the US, or that dream cruise. Each weekly episode features: • Bucket list destination guides (think places like Italy, Iceland, South Africa, Greece, & more) • Practical tips on packing, planning, and using points & miles • Curated itineraries with hidden gems & local insights • Interviews with experienced travelers and travel pros • Travel hacks that save you time, money, and overwhelm • Travel Deals that are too good to pass up From avoiding overtourism, finding the best-value travel deals, traveling to new places and in new ways, this podcast helps you navigate every stage of your journey. They believe travel should be meaningful, memorable, and attainable, no matter where you’re starting from and they help you do just that. Follow the show and join them each week as they help you stop dreaming and start booking.© 2026 Sunshine Travelers Self-Help Social Sciences Success Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Episode 160 - How We're Building a Travel-Focused Life & Our 2026 Global Route

    Episode 160 - How We're Building a Travel-Focused Life & Our 2026 Global Route
    Feb 17 2026
    As we begin to navigate Scott's pending corporate retirement, we are currently planning our first big global trip. We're sharing where we are going and why, the tips we've learned along the way, why this costs less than you might think, and how to begin building a travel-focused life and lifestyle of your own. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Help Support the Podcast by Buying us a Coffee ☕️ Other episodes we discussed in this episode: Our Episode with Taylor of Culture Craving Couple, who we are getting our Puglia Recommendations from: Episode 109 - From Madrid to Sicily: Foodie Travel Secrets with the Culture Craving Couple Moh and Erica have inspired us for years. Listen in on our discussion with them here: Episode 32 - Traveling Around the World Fast and Slow with Raut Finder More Resources & Links: Let us help you book your next trip!Make money booking travel with us!Get our Curated List of Travel Deals Get Our FREE Ultimate Packing Guide See ALL our Favorite Travel Resources Don’t waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear!Protect your privacy, boost your security, and keep your browsing data safe with Express VPN. Plus, get 3 months free with a yearly plan. Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcastFollow us on X @sunshinetrvlrsConnect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcastFollow us on Facebook @sunshinetravelerspodcastConnect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcastSee our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcastSave our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay
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    48 mins
  • Episode 159 - How to Live Abroad in Retirement: Without Becoming an Expat

    Episode 159 - How to Live Abroad in Retirement: Without Becoming an Expat
    Feb 10 2026
    In our last episode, we shared that I’ll be retiring from my corporate role at the end of March. And for us, that doesn’t mean slowing down. It means changing how we travel. For years, we’ve moved fast. We’ve packed itineraries. We’ve seen incredible places in short windows of time. But this next chapter is going to be different. We don’t just want to visit places anymore. We want to stay. To rent an apartment for a month. To shop at the same market twice in a week. To learn the norms of a neighborhood. To go deeper. So when we came across The Good Life Abroad, it caught our attention right away. Because what Andrew Motiwalla has built aligns almost exactly with where Melissa and I find ourselves right now. It’s designed for people 55 and older who want to live abroad for one to three months — not as tourists, but as temporary locals — with built-in community and support. What you'll discover in our interview with Andrew: How The Good Life Abroad makes “living abroad” doable (even if it feels overwhelming): vetted apartments, a local community manager, built-in community, and a safety net (insurance, English-speaking doctors, help getting oriented). What it actually feels like to live in Europe for 1–3 months: the real adjustments (noise, late dinners, smaller kitchens, no ADA) and how the program prepares you so those things don’t become deal-breakers. Why slow travel + community changes everything in this season of life: how retirees find their “tribe,” travel with intention (like taking a class before a trip), and use longer stays to go deeper than a cruise or a one-week vacation. Learn more about The Good Life Abroad here Help Support the Podcast by Buying us a Coffee ☕️ More Resources & Links (Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure). Get our Curated List of Travel Deals Get Our FREE Ultimate Packing Guide See ALL our Favorite Travel Resources Don’t waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear!Protect your privacy, boost your security, and keep your browsing data safe with Express VPN. Plus, get 3 months free with a yearly plan. Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcastFollow us on X @sunshinetrvlrsConnect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcastFollow us on Facebook @sunshinetravelerspodcastConnect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcastSee our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcastSave our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay
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    46 mins
  • Episode 158 - Our Review of Sailing Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam - A Mid-Size Cruise Ship

    Episode 158 - Our Review of Sailing Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam - A Mid-Size Cruise Ship
    Feb 3 2026
    Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Review: Alaska Cruise Highlights Some cruise lines you try once. Others you come back to because they fit the way you like to travel. That’s been our experience with Holland America Line. In this episode, we’re sharing our honest review of the Nieuw Amsterdam after sailing an Alaska itinerary that included Glacier Bay National Park. This isn’t a megaship review — it’s about what daily life onboard is actually like, based on real experience, not marketing. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Help Support the Podcast by Buying us a Coffee ☕️ What you'll Discover in this Episode: Mid-size ship feel: With just over 2,100 passengers, Nieuw Amsterdam never felt crowded and was easy to navigate Comfort over flash: No water parks or over-the-top attractions — just well-designed spaces, open decks, and a relaxed pace Strong dining: Consistently good food, excellent main dining service, and a standout specialty restaurant (Pinnacle Grill) Exceptional service: Friendly, attentive crew who remembered names and preferences throughout the cruise Entertainment style: High-quality performers, but more low-key than mega ships; BB King’s Blues Club was popular but undersized Alaska itinerary win: Smaller ship access allowed closer glacier viewing and a more immersive Glacier Bay experience Who it’s best for: Travelers who value food, service, scenery, and space over nonstop activities and crowds Some comparisions between our Holland America and our Princess Cruise Need Help Booking the Right Cruise? If you’re considering an Alaska cruise or any cruise and want help choosing the right ship, itinerary, or cruise line for your travel style, we’re happy to help. Our cruise booking services are completely free, and we work with all major cruise lines. You can contact us here and get our cruise planning help for FREE! Hear our Review of Princess Cruise Lines Here! Resources & Links: Get our Curated List of Travel Deals Get Our FREE Ultimate Packing Guide See ALL our Favorite Travel Resources Don’t waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear!Protect your privacy, boost your security, and keep your browsing data safe with Express VPN. Plus, get 3 months free with a yearly plan. Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcastFollow us on X @sunshinetrvlrsConnect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcastFollow us on Facebook @sunshinetravelerspodcastConnect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcastSee our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcastSave our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay
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    26 mins
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