Talking Carts 13: Travel Smarter, Not Harder

Travel-related items are some of the most expensive things you can add to your cart, making the process of planning a vacation especially daunting. Add in the challenges of separating spam and scam from legit deals, coordinating calendars, and agreeing on a destination, and it can be tempting to just stay home. 

But you don’t have to do that.

In this podcast episode, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines welcome Monet Hambrick, founder of The Traveling Child, a website focused on helping families plan perspective-expanding travel that fits even modest budgets. “If kids live there, kids can visit,” says Hambrick, a travel writer and mother of two who shares road-tested tips and techniques for those who balk at traveling with children anywhere beyond a theme park. 

The episode is packed with news you can use, from tips on selecting a destination to a list of the most common and costly mistakes people make when booking flights and hotels. We also reveal Consumer Reports’ top-rated suitcases, including a budget-friendly, lab-tested CR Recommended model that goes for well under $100. 

Learn how to spend with intention for your next adventure, using specific tools, alerts, and hacks that Monet swears by. Then stick around for the “Cart Check: Spend or Skip” lightning round on travel extras like TSA PreCheck, travel insurance, and cruise drink packages.