Kelsey chats with Anna Haakenson (@wanderlust.haaks on Instagram) about her family’s decision to leave their jobs as physician assistants and hit the road for over a year of full-time, slow travel with two little kids (now 6 and 3).

Anna shares what slow travel actually looks like with young children, how they afford it, and why this reset has been so meaningful for their family.

We zoom in on two of their home bases: 28 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand and 28 days in Vang Vieng, Laos.

This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygraves

If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com

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Mentioned in this episode:
- @wanderlust.haaks on Instagram: www.instagram.com/wanderlust.haaks
- https://wanderlusthaaks.com
- Countries they have visited: Mexico, Guatemala, India, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Ecuador
- Coast FIRE Retirement Strategy
- LAOS: Luang Prabang Airport, Vang Vieng, Lagoons
- THAILAND: Chiang Mai, kid cafes, temples, Thai massages, Grab cabs, hospital visit, Monk's Trail, Sticky Waterfalls, Royal Park Rajapruek
- World Nomad Games, Mongols
- Salvador, Brazil

For how much we all travel, someone is bound to get sick on a trip. In this episode of Kelsey Unpacked, I’m sharing my top tips for navigating travel when sickness strikes - from what meds I actually pack, to how I mentally prepare when things don’t go according to plan.

I’m also sharing a personal health update from our family about our recent journey to get to the bottom of my teenage daughter’s dizzy spells, near-fainting episodes, nausea, and low energy.

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves

Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves

Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879

Mentioned in this episode:
- Disposable and portable nausea bags: https://amzlink.to/az0AOADHNTAay
- POTS: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
- LMNT electrolytes: https://drinklmnt.com/

Jacki from Massachusetts (@trips.and.dips_ on Instagram) joins Kelsey to share about her girls’ trip to Puerto Rico with 8 friends celebrating their 40th birthdays in January 2026. From pool days and piña coladas to snorkeling off a catamaran, exploring Old San Juan, and dinner at Bad Bunny’s restaurant, this trip was full of fun and memorable moments.

In this episode, Jacki shares what made Puerto Rico such a great destination for a milestone girls’ getaway, what their group loved most, and a few things she would do differently next time.

NOW 60% OFF your first month of Rent the Runway with code RTRXKGRAVES:

This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygraves

If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves

Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves

Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879

Mentioned in this episode:
- Jacki from @trips.and.dips_ on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/trips.and.dips_/)
- Condado Beach
- San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino
- Restaurants:
- 1950 Condado (good food, slow service)
- The Atlantic restaurant at the Tryst Hotel (good food, vibe off)
- La Casita de Rones (hand-shaken Pina Coladas, vibey, yummy apps, Instagram-able photo spots), Carli's Fine Bistro & Piano (super slow service)
- El Condado Gastropub (out of everything, left and went somewhere else) - Mexitaly (OK food, mix of Mexican and Italian)
- La Concha (conch shell restaurant, super vibey, great for a couples trip)
- Bad Bunny's restaurant Lala at The Mall of San Juan (great!)
- Old San Juan (take a golf cart tour)
- Bioluminescent Bay tours
- Catamaran tour out of Fajardo (good snorkeling!)
- El Conquistador Resort
- Guava and Cheese Pastelitos