TravelStories Episode 41: Perspective and Camp Mom with Dia Adams

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Episode 41: Show Notes.

Note: The video of this podcast can be viewed on Youtube, find it here.

Family travel can be just as affordable and rewarding as a solo one. To help us gain a better perspective of traveling the world with kids in tow, we are joined today by the renowned travel expert, author, and Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends, Dia Adams, who begins our conversation by highlighting the importance of travel conferences in building community. We discuss Dia’s hit column, What’s in Dia’s Wallet, and what her role at Fortune entails before learning about her affinity for less-lavish hotels, how vendoming has evolved since she first coined the term, how she developed Camp Mom as the perfect family travel hack, and how she’s cultivated travel hacking in her kids. We also unpack the power of perspective, how to have a Disney experience without going to Disney World; what Dia thinks about miles and points devaluations, and how to connect with today’s remarkable guest!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:49] Welcoming Dia Adams as she highlights the importance of travel conferences.
• [05:51] What’s in Dia’s Wallet: Exploring her role at Fortune Recommends.
• [11:30] Why she loves Choice Hotels but tries to steer clear from Hyatt.
• [14:40] How she coined ‘vendoming’ and how the term has evolved.
• [17:57] The ins and outs of Dia’s family travel hack, Camp Mom.
• [27:36] Why it’s important to immerse yourself in the experience of each destination.
• [32:40] How Dia has cultivated travel hacking in her kids, and the pros and cons thereof.
• [38:30] The undeniable power of perspective!
• [44:28] How to make the most of Disney as seen in Dia’s book, Disney World Hacks.
• [49:01] What our guest thinks about the latest wave of miles and points devaluations.
• [56:01] How to connect with Dia and her work.

Quotes:

“I just want people to be a little bit more – I don’t know if you’re following this TikTok trend – a little more mindful, a little more demure about their miles choices.” — @TheDiaAdams [09:24]

“Almost every success I’ve ever had in my career has been due to a rant.” — @TheDiaAdams [14:59]

“I tend to base trips on a vibe these days. Like, how do I want to feel during this trip? Everything else kind of goes from that.” — @TheDiaAdams [32:30]

“One time, there was a last-minute ferry sale to Hawaii, and I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Hawaii, and they’re like, ‘Nah, we’re good. We went last year, we’re good.’ One of the kids actually said to me once, ‘One private island a year is enough for me.’” — @TheDiaAdams [36:57]

“A family of four — for a Spring Break-type vacation — from New York, could fly to Paris and spend a week in Paris and three days at Paris Disneyland for the same price as a week in Orlando at Disney.” — @TheDiaAdams [45:58]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dia Adams

Dia Adams on LinkedIn

Dia Adams on X

Dia Adams on Instagram

Fortune