Episode 68 Stamped: Mandy Watson – One woman, one motto, and a world of adventure
What do you get when you mix an empty nest, unstoppable curiosity, and a life motto to “spend the kids’ inheritance”? In Episode 68 of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Mandy Watson [of travel blog Spending Kids Inheritance] joins Tracy to share the bold, breathtaking, and often hilarious stories behind her lifelong love of travel.
From being stranded in Hawaii with just $1 at 18, to summiting Kilimanjaro at 40, trekking the Inca Trail at 50, and planning Everest Base Camp at 60, Mandy proves that travel is not something you grow out of. It is something you grow into.
She recounts a heart-racing “Attenborough moment” in the Maasai Mara, reflects on places she is glad she has seen but does not need to return to, shares her dream of finally spotting the Northern Lights, and offers up a simple travel tip you will actually want to use.
With nearly 70 countries already ticked off and 26 more on the horizon, Mandy’s story will inspire you to revisit your own bucket list and maybe even expand it.
Click the blue button below to listen:
Episode 68 – What you’ll learn in this episode
- 📍 How to maintain an adventurous spirit at any age and tips for navigating unexpectedly tough situations while travelling.
- 📅 Insights into bucket-list itinerary creation and how goals (like climbing Kilimanjaro or seeing the Northern Lights) drive travel decisions.
- 🚄 Strategies for handling international transport mishaps, from last-minute airfare changes to quirky taxi experiences.
- 🛏️ The value of choosing unique accommodations (like safaris or local Airbnbs) and making sure you can always find your hotel by taking a photo before heading out.
- 🥢 Embracing local culture—finding joy in Sunday roasts in England, pre-lunch wines in Italy, and cantering along Mozambican beaches.
- 😲 The importance (and humour) of adaptability, whether it’s running out of money in London, being chased through a wildebeest stampede, or fixing a broken taxi clutch with string in Peru.
Places, foods and words/concepts mentioned
Places
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: The mountain that topped Mandy’s bucket list and marked her transition into adventure travel.
- Masai Mara, Kenya: Scene of the breathtaking wildebeest migration and an Attenborough-worthy wildlife encounter.
- New Zealand: Mandy’s first international experience as a child, visiting family with her Kiwi mother.
- Mozambique: Location of an off-the-beaten-path horse riding safari, complete with pristine beaches and ocean sunrises.
- Peru (Cusco): Where Mandy experienced the ingenuity of local taxi drivers and unique quad-biking adventures.
- England: A place she feels instantly at home, loving both its countryside and city life.
- Italy: The dream destination to live seasonally and explore from top to toe—still on Mandy’s wish list for a slow-travel experience.
- China: A fascinating but challenging family adventure, memorable for its travel logistics and unique culture.
- Russia: Home of the awe-inspiring Hermitage Museum, a once-in-a-lifetime cultural destination.
- Alaska & Canada: Future Northern Lights hunting ground and upcoming cruises with family and friends.
- Svalbard, Iceland: Other attempts at catching the elusive Northern Lights.
- South Africa: Gateway to Mozambique and beloved for its proximity and wildlife.
- Churchill, Canada: Tracy’s own “white whale”—the ultimate place to see polar bears.
Foods
- Sunday Roast & Devonshire Tea (England): British comfort food and traditions that feel like home to Mandy and her husband.
- Pre-lunch Wines (Italy): A standout culinary memory; “my kind of country” where wine is joyously poured before lunch.
- Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas (England): Trevor’s favourite local meal in Britain, celebrated for its simplicity and tradition.
Words/Concepts
- Great Wildebeest Migration: The annual wildlife spectacle in Kenya—“an Attenborough moment” according to Mandy.
- Take a Photo of Your Hotel: Mandy’s top travel tip – snap the front of your accommodation to show taxi drivers and avoid confusion, especially in non-English-speaking countries.
- Travel Family Tree: Mandy’s affectionate term for the lifelong friendships she makes while travelling, especially in the UK.
Links
Podcasts
- Episode #19 – Explore the World with Mandy: Travel Tales and Adventures from Across the Globe
- Episode #63 – Stamped: Amanda Kendle – How Thoughtful Travel Shapes a Life of Meaningful Adventures
- Episode #60 – Lost in Translation: Hilarious English Mix-Ups on Your Adventures Abroad
Articles
- Tips for first-time visitors to Morocco
- Tips for first-time visitors to Turkey
- Tips for first-time visitors to Japan
Guest Bio – Mandy Watson
Mandy Watson is a recently retired avid traveller who, along with her husband for over 31 years, has set foot on all seven continents and has explored over 70 countries so far.
She loves to inspire others to ‘have a go’, to perhaps even step outside their comfort levels, and ‘Just say yes!’
Having scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro for her 40th and Machu Picchu for her 50th, she has Everest Base Camp now in sight for her 60th, but she might do it even earlier. “Why wait?”
She enjoys her time home in Australia on her 5-acre property with Trev and her other ‘love’—her Arabian horses. With four kids now grown and four grandchildren, her favourite ‘Adventure Before Dementia’ slogan is actually tattooed on her inner forearm, just to continually remind her that you just don’t know what’s around the corner.
Live passionately, with loads of humour, and leave no regrets behind. Find Mandy on her website – Spending Kids Inheritance.
