Celebrating 5 years of the Happy Women Travel More Podcast, I'm leaving you with one last episode for the year — and honestly, it's something I've never fully shared out loud.

As you start thinking about your vacations for next year, today I'm revealing 3 insights about planning a trip that most people never tell you… but I will.

These are the small but powerful insights that can completely shift how you approach your vacation planning, and ultimately, how much satisfaction you get from your travel experience.

→ SEE ANGELA'S VACATION PLANNING SUPPORT SERVICE AT WILD HAIR TRAVELS ←

→ SAVE YOUR SPOT ON MY CALENDAR TO GET 1-ON-1 VACATION PLANNING SUPPORT! ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 40: Why Out-of-the-Box Vacations Don't Do It For You

Episode 53: The Pros and Cons of Independent Vacations

Episode 155: My 2 Biggest Pieces of Travel Advice

If you're starting to think about the year ahead and want a fresh approach to planning, I'm sharing a simple, practical formula you can follow as you plan your next year — and it's not your typical year-ahead planning advice.

We're skipping the usual (and boring) focus on SMART goals and achievement lists, and instead zeroing in on the things that make a year feel meaningful, fun, and intentional — the things that help you create your best year yet.

If you're ready to plan your year in a way that goes beyond resolutions, obligations, or "shoulds," this episode is for you.

→ SAVE YOUR SPOT ON MY CALENDAR TO GET 1-ON-1 VACATION PLANNING SUPPORT! ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 146: How Seasonal Planning Could Help With the Overwhelm

Episode 172: How to Live a Happier Life

Episode 173: How to Ditch the Default

Episode 262: How to Plan a Big Trip Years in Advance

When you take a step back and look at how you're spending your time, does it actually reflect the life you want to live? Because the reality is, the way you spend your days now shapes the life you'll look back on later.

On this episode, we're getting real about time — not in the sense of productivity hacks or squeezing more in, but in the sense of owning the one life you get.

If it feels like your days are running you instead of you running them, this episode is designed to give you a fresh perspective, a bit of inspiration, and maybe the push you didn't even realize you needed to take back control.

→ SAVE YOUR SPOT ON MY CALENDAR TO GET 1-ON-1 VACATION PLANNING SUPPORT! ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 169: The ONE Thing to Remember About Time + Travel

Episode 172: How to Live a Happier Life

Episode 173: How to Ditch the Default

Episode 193: How to Tackle Calendar Clutter and Ditch the Overwhelm w/ Laurie Palau

Do you ever find a few spare minutes in your day or week to just sit quietly and do nothing — no phone, no book, no distractions at all? If that idea makes you a little uncomfortable, you're definitely not alone, and this episode is for you.

We're diving into what it really means to pause, quiet your mind, and simply let yourself be — especially if your life usually feels like it's moving at full speed. We'll explore why our modern version of downtime doesn't always feel restorative, how spending time in nature can help you settle, and why allowing yourself to do nothing might be exactly what your mind and body need.

If the thought of stillness makes you squirm, feel guilty, or seems impossible, stick around — you might be surprised at how much learning to slow down can transform your sense of calm, clarity, and well-being.

→ WHAT'S YOUR TRAVEL STYLE? TAKE THE QUIZ ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 218: How to Have a Successful Solo Staycation Retreat

Episode 227: The Work-Life-Travel Equation: How to Balance It All Without Guilt

Episode 253: When Nature Stops Being a Hobby and Starts Being a Lifeline

If you've ever hesitated when someone asks what you do for fun, you're not alone. So many of us get caught up in work and life that we forget what it even feels like to have something we do purely because we enjoy it.

But as busy professional women juggling all of the things, having something just for us is actually really important.

In this episode, we're unpacking what hobbies really look like for adult women, how they can bring more joy and meaning into your day-to-day life, and how to actually fit them into a busy lifestyle. Because sometimes what we're really craving isn't a break or extra hours in the week, but a little space to do something that's ours.

→ WHAT'S YOUR TRAVEL STYLE? TAKE THE QUIZ ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 92: Traveling More Won't Make You Happy

Episode 172: How to Live a Happier Life

Episode 209: Finding Happiness: A Personal Reflection on Loving My Life

Travel Style Avatar Series:

124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You?

125: Travel Style Avatars // The Bucket Lister

126: Travel Style Avatars // The Escapist

127: Travel Style Avatars // The Adventurer

128: Travel Style Avatars // The Soul Searcher

129: Travel Style Avatars // The Socialite

130: Travel Style Avatars // The Nomad

131: Travel Style Avatars // The Tourist

132: Travel Style Avatars // The Thrill Seeker

133: My Travel Style Avatar // How I Narrowed It Down

If you can only take one trip each year, make sure it's this one.

This is the getaway that keeps you going when life feels overwhelming, busy, or just plain "meh." It's the kind of trip you can look forward to all year long — and enjoy the excitement of anticipating it just as much as the time away itself.

On this episode, I'm sharing a fresh perspective on the one trip that deserves a permanent spot on your calendar every single year, and why it's worth prioritizing above all others.

→ SAVE YOUR SPOT ON MY CALENDAR TO GET 1-ON-1 VACATION PLANNING SUPPORT! ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 110: Don't Ignore This BIGGER Purpose of a Vacation

Episode 156: Behind the Scenes of My Best Vacation Yet

Episode 191: Finding Your Travel Frequency: Bridging Wanderlust with Reality

Norway is breathtaking — from its glassy fjords to the bright red fishing huts tucked between mountains, and those cascading waterfalls that make you stop in your tracks.

If you've been dreaming of visiting, you've probably come across this thing called "Norway in a Nutshell," which looks totally magical, but also a little confusing. Like — is it a tour, a train ride, a fjord cruise, or just a clever marketing name? And more importantly — is it worth including on your trip?

I've got those answers on this episode. I'm breaking down exactly what Norway in a Nutshell is, where it goes, how it works, and the most common mistake travelers make when planning it.

Then, we go beyond the Nutshell to explore other incredible destinations in Norway — from Oslo and Bergen to Tromsø, the Lofoten Islands, and more — helping you think about how to piece together a trip that makes the most of your time.

Whether Norway is a "someday" dream or a trip you're starting to plan, this episode will give you clarity and guidance to begin designing your perfect Norwegian adventure.

→ SAVE YOUR SPOT ON MY CALENDAR TO GET 1-ON-1 VACATION PLANNING SUPPORT! ←

Connect w/ Angela on Instagram

LISTEN BACK:

Episode 159: 5 Tips to Decrease the Time It Takes to Plan Your Vacation

Episode 178: 4 Signs Your Itinerary is Too Ambitious

Episode 230: The Perfect Pace For A Multi-Leg Trip