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Chris Christensen Chris Christensen

Chris is the creator of AmateurTraveler.com. Amateur Traveler is a popular online Travel podcast and blog that focuses primarily on travel destinations. The Amateur Traveler podcast was downloaded over 2 million times in 2023.

The Amateur Traveler is 18+ years old and they use Amateur Traveler to teach English at Oxford University and to test English proficiency for Employment with the Thailand Foreign Ministry.

Chris has won a Lowell Thomas Award, 5 NATJA awards, and a SMITTY Award from Travel+Leisure as the "best independent travel journalist."

Recent Content

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At#1001 - Travel To Western Crete, Greece &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#1001 – Travel to Western Crete, Greece

Hear about travel to Western Crete as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about his hiking adventure around the villages and in the mountains of the largest Greek island. T…

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Hear about travel to Western Crete as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about his hiking adventure around the villages and in the mountains of the largest Greek island. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you visit Western Crete? Jonty says, "Crete is a diverse Greek island, home to excellent hiking, dramatic gorges, atmospheric villages, epic coastlin…

Listen · 49:23
At#1000 - Travel To Uzbekistan And Turkmenistan &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#1000 – Travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia. This week'…

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Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan? Chris says, "In this area, you can stand in these beautiful cities that date back over two thousand years. This is a trip thr…

Listen · 1:15:20
At#999 - Travel To Umbria In Italy &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#999 – Travel to Umbria in Italy

Hear about travel to Umbria in Italy as the Amateur Traveler talks to Katerina Ferrara, the author of the Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Umbria. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Tr…

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Hear about travel to Umbria in Italy as the Amateur Traveler talks to Katerina Ferrara, the author of the Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Umbria. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Umbria? Katerina says, "Travelers should include Umbria in their plans because the hill towns feel just completely suspended in time. These are beautifully preserved places that stay off the main tou…

Listen · 1:04:37
Travel To Delaware - Episode 998 &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
Travel to Delaware – Episode 998

Hear about travel to Delaware as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dannelle Gay from the Traveling Cheesehead about her recent visit to The First State. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Trav…

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Hear about travel to Delaware as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dannelle Gay from the Traveling Cheesehead about her recent visit to The First State. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Delaware? Dannelle says, "If you are a foodie, if you're a history buff, if you're a beach person, there are so many different reasons. If you're into military history or you get into aircraft World War II h…

Listen · 56:13
At#997 - Travel Jerez And Cádiz, Spain &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#997 – Travel Jerez and Cádiz, Spain

Hear about travel to Jerez de la Frontera and the province of Cádiz in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to the 2026 Culinary Capital of Spain. This week's show is support…

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Hear about travel to Jerez de la Frontera and the province of Cádiz in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to the 2026 Culinary Capital of Spain. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This episode is based on a recent press trip to Cádiz and Jerez, with guest Kristen Henning from Travel Past 50 joining Chris to talk about why travelers should consider this corner of Andalusia. Why Visit Cá…

Listen · 1:06:15
At#996 - Travel To Santiago, Chile &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#996 – Travel to Santiago, Chile

Hear about travel to Santiago, Chile, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from TravelPast50.com about this city that she called home for a time. This week's show is supported by the new S…

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Hear about travel to Santiago, Chile, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from TravelPast50.com about this city that she called home for a time. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Santiago? Kristin says, "You can get to the mountains quickly. You can get to the valley for wine tasting quickly. You can get to the coast, Valparaíso, and beach towns quickly. But Santiago itself does hold a…

Listen · 42:34
At#996 - Travel To Santiago, Chile &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#996 – Travel to Santiago, Chile

Hear about travel to Santiago, Chile, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from TravelPast50.com about this city that she called home for a time. This week's show is supported by the new S…

Hear about travel to…

Hear about travel to Santiago, Chile, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from TravelPast50.com about this city that she called home for a time. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Santiago? Kristin says, "You can get to the mountains quickly. You can get to the valley for wine tasting quickly. You can get to the coast, Valparaíso, and beach towns quickly. But Santiago itself does hold a…

Listen · 42:34
At#995 - Travel To Saxony, Germany &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#995 – Travel to Saxony, Germany

Hear about travel to Saxony as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to Leipzig, Dresden, Meissen, and more in this southeast corner of Germany. This week's show is supported by the new…

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Hear about travel to Saxony as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to Leipzig, Dresden, Meissen, and more in this southeast corner of Germany. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recommended Saxony Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Leipzig Start in Leipzig. Base yourself in the compact historic center, ideally near the Old Town Hall. Chris stayed at the Steigenberger Icon Grand Hotel, close to the market square and th…

Listen · 1:03:36
At994 - Travel To Las Vegas, Nevada &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT994 – Travel to Las Vegas, Nevada

Hear about travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Meryl Pearlstein about this glamorous city in the desert that keeps drawing her back. This week's show is supported by the new…

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Hear about travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Meryl Pearlstein about this glamorous city in the desert that keeps drawing her back. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why Go to Las Vegas if You Don’t Gamble? Meryl makes the case that Las Vegas is far more than casinos. She highlights the city as a place where you can combine top-tier dining, arts and culture, unusual museums, live Entertainment, and de…

Listen · 56:24
At#993 - Travel To West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau) &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#993 – Travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau)

Hear about travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jenna Fletcher from LifeKineticTravel.com about her quest to see baby sea turtles in Guinea-Bissa…

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Hear about travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jenna Fletcher from LifeKineticTravel.com about her quest to see baby sea turtles in Guinea-Bissau. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to West Africa? Jenna says, "It is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful: green, flowers, animals. It is one of those spots that is definitely less explored by Western tourists. I think it…

Listen · 48:28
At#992 - Travel To The Alentejo Region Of Portugal &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#992 – Travel to the Alentejo Region of Portugal

Hear about travel to the Alentejo Region as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel blogger and adviser Julie Fox from JulieDawnFox.com about this overlooked but spectacular region of Portugal. This week…

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Hear about travel to the Alentejo Region as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel blogger and adviser Julie Fox from JulieDawnFox.com about this overlooked but spectacular region of Portugal. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to the Alentejo? Julie says, "There's plenty to see and do in the Alentejo. So yeah, it's a great place if you're into slow travel, small towns, and the countryside. It is quite varied, and you've got nat…

Listen · 1:06:18
At#991 - Travel To East Java, Indonesia &Raquo; 0Effc71C5Dc33E44016354F0F3Fda8F5 8
AT#991 – Travel to East Java, Indonesia

Hear about travel to East Java in Indonesia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kiara Kolaczyk from Kultura Travel about this less-traveled region where she once lived. This week's show is supported by t…

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Hear about travel to East Java in Indonesia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kiara Kolaczyk from Kultura Travel about this less-traveled region where she once lived. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Kiara’s recommended East Java itinerary starts with the better-known sights, then shifts into a more Malang-centered, off-the-beaten-path route. She opens with Mount Bromo as the big classic excursion, especially as a sunrise trip, then mentions Borob…

Listen · 55:57