{"podcast":{"title":"Unpacked by Afar","slug":"unpacked-by-afar-5453284","podcast_index_feed_id":5453284,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/AFAR5346594674","website_url":"https://www.afar.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/0b1e55c8-d310-11ec-b05b-232990bef640/image/f875b1003db6ddf73d1d23985feab0de.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Afar","episode_count":169,"summary":"Unpacked by Afar tackles one tricky topic in travel each week. Whether you want to hack your points and miles, figure out where to travel next, or need advice on an ethical dilemma, we're your expert travel guides. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unpacked-by-afar-5453284"},"episode":{"title":"Where to Go in 2026: The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors","slug":"where-to-go-in-2026-the-five-square-mile-caribbean-island-that-s-nothing-like-its-neighbors","published_at":"2026-01-16T08:01:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unpacked-by-afar-5453284/where-to-go-in-2026-the-five-square-mile-caribbean-island-that-s-nothing-like-its-neighbors","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unpacked-by-afar-5453284","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/p.podderapp.com/9063871245/mgln.ai/e/211/traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML2980252115.mp3?updated=1768520740","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/p.podderapp.com/9063871245/mgln.ai/e/211/traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML2980252115.mp3?updated=1768520740","summary":"It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Places like Saba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island with no beaches, no cruise ports, and the world's shortest commercial runway—just 400 meters long. What it does have: lush volcanic landscapes, 20 hand-built hiking trails, and a population of just over 2,000. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with ⁠Bianca Bujan⁠, a Vancouver-based travel journalist who shares the thrilling 12-minute flight from St. Martin, the island's gingerbread-house architecture, and why her teenager called it his favorite trip ever—despite spotty wifi and no beaches. Plan Your Saba Getaway Stay ⁠Juliana’s Hotel⁠ in Windward Side, a boutique property ⁠The Scenery Hotel, a new luxury boutique hotel opening in 2026 at the base of Mount Scenery Eat and Drink ⁠Tropics Cafe⁠ at Juliana's Hotel—popular with locals Try ⁠Saba Spice⁠, a local handmade spiced rum served on ice Time your visit for the ⁠Saba Rum and Lobster Festival⁠ in November See and Do Hike ⁠Mount Scenery⁠, technically the highest point in the Netherlands Try the ⁠Mas'Cohones Trail⁠ for spectacular views with a less strenuous climb Book a guided hike with ⁠Crocodile James⁠, a local legend, via the Saba Conservation Foundation Join a ⁠Sea and Learn Foundation⁠ workshop for hands-on experiences like wild clay pottery with locals Resources Follow Bianca on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or read her work on her website Explore ⁠Afar's ⁠Where to Go in 2026 list⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠@afarmedia⁠⁠ Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might…","meta_description":"It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explo…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1301,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/unpacked-by-afar-5453284/episodes/where-to-go-in-2026-the-five-square-mile-caribbean-island-that-s-nothing-like-its-neighbors/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/unpacked-by-afar-5453284/where-to-go-in-2026-the-five-square-mile-caribbean-island-that-s-nothing-like-its-neighbors.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}