Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Today I'm taking the Eurostar, which has survived the Covid crisis despite being hit harder than any other transport undertaking. Join me as I explain the current rules around international travel and why Spain is winning my award for worst performance by any tourist-dependent country.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Covid tests for travellers returning to the UK have been scrapped at long last, which Grant Shapps has described as a "landmark moment for international travel". Join me in Northern Burgundy where I can tell you all you need to know about the latest updates on Covid-19 testing.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris is back on the tourist map as restrictions ease across Europe but on my first visit back to the French capital, I'm reminded of the complexity of getting round Charles De Gaulle airport. In this episode join me as I navigate my way through the Parisian airport and give you the lowdown on the best way to deal with it.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Much fanfare was made this week by transport secretary Grant Schapps about a competition to find a city to house the headquarters of The Great British Railways company. But what exactly is it? I take you through what the remit of the body is and what they'll be looking to do to help return Britain's rail industry to past glory.There's also an exciting exclusive about who the finalists will be for the race to be granted the headquarters, and why it's not such a competition after all...Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia has announced the reopening of its borders to vaccinated tourists and other visa holders for the first time in almost two years. The reopening on February 21st does however have some things to be aware of - I talk you through what you need and what you need to be aware of as you make your way down under.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Motorists might have to pay by the mile in future, a cross-party Commons select committee has proposed as they see no "viable alternative" as a tax shortfall arises from the shift to electric vehicles that could be as big as £35bn. The committee has warned without urgent reform to taxation, the UK could face an under-resourced and congested future, with sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles set to be banned from sale from 2030 as part of the government's 2050 net zero plans. But will the public go for it?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transport for London has announced in their latest financial update that the black hole in London's transport network has ballooned to £1.5 billion, mainly due to the pandemic. Just as London's network begins to show the strain of this, bosses are in a battle to get more money from the central government and are looking at a lot of different ways to claw back some of the money. Plans to introduce a road user charge, hike up council tax and extend a congestion charging zone will not be enough to balance the books, TfL board papers have revealed and talk of 'managed decline' as well as more off-the-wall plans such as closing tube lines for some days of the week are all being talked of. I take a look at what's going on.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryanair has failed in its attempt to overturn a court ruling that it must pay compensation to passengers affected by industrial action that dates back from an industrial dispute in 2018. Thousands of the airline's customers lost out when flights were cancelled in due to a series of walkouts in 2018 and today a court ruling has sided with the Civil Aviation Authority and say Ryanair must pay the compensation to travellers. But before you go planning on how to spend any potential windfall, I'll take you through what's next and remind you of your rights as a passenger, as well as discussing why this case shows the system isn't fit for purpose.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the EU is altering its travel restrictions in two big ways. Firstly, it is recommending a change in how member states manage travel restrictions, and altering the focus to the individual, away from the region of departure. Secondly, all member states are shortening the validity of Covid-19 vaccination certificates to 270 days (nine months) across the bloc. Up to now, the EU has been recommending travel restrictions based upon the situation in the departure region, area or country. As of 1 February, it is recommending that these Europe travel restrictions be replaced with restrictions based upon the traveler’s situation.I take you through the new rules and what they mean in practice, while also explaining some of the inconsistencies still remaining in international travel.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain will soon have a new eco-tourism attraction, following news that the charity behind the Eden Project in Cornwall have been given planning permission by Lancaster City Council for the £125m Eden Project North. The charity hope to re-imagine Morecambe as "a seaside resort for the 21st century" with three shell-shaped pavilions on the seafront showcasing the natural world and everything that goes into making it.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grant Shapps has made a number of transport announcements. These have fallen during the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged parties held at 10 Downing Street, leading many to refer to these announcement as convenient 'dead cat' distractions. I go through each of them and what they mean for travellers. From less announcements on trains to updates on testing before travel.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss flew by private jet to Australia at a cost of over half-a-million pounds to the taxpayer, rather than using scheduled flights that would have been faster and far cheaper. Instead of travelling from London to Sydney on one of the daily Qantas departures, Ms Truss flew the 22,000 miles to, from and within Australia aboard the private government Airbus A321. The Ministerial Code makes clear that only the foreign secretary could authorise such a flight.In this episode, I talk about what Truss did, how I uncovered it and who's picking up the tab. (Clue, it's us taxpayers.)Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghost flights, in which a plane completes a journey with no passengers on board, have always taken place. I take a look at the reasons why and how Covid has affected ghost flights.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a long time London Heathrow airport has sat on top off the list of best airport's in Europe. Due to a number of factors but chiefly the fallout from the UK's travel restrictions during Covid, as well as Brexit, Heathrow has lost its top spot. Airports in Istanbul and Moscow now dominate.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All Covid testing requirements for vaccinated travellers arriving into England are to be scrapped, the government has confirmed. The “day two” lateral flow test that double-jabbed arrivals must currently take after arrival will no longer be necessary from 4am on 11 February. But they're not quite done yet, with other countries still continuing restrictions and some other terms and conditions out there. I take you through what the new government announcement means for your travel plans, and the best way to avoid any mishaps.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Train journeys could become a lot quieter if plans recently announced are anything to go by. Yes, train companies and the government are looking to reduce the number of announcements onboard to give us all a better rail experience. But is that where focus should be right now? As I speak to you on this train, I counted a whopping 11 people on a service that could service several hundred, giving us a visual sense of the problems facing our rail industry right now. In this episode, I discuss the plans and give my views on whether we're drowning in service announcements or being directed to a problem many of us don't really think of as being one.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British and Irish airlines are some of the safest in the world but the case of Ryanair flight 4798 shows that it's not just crashes that airlines need to remain vigilant over when looking at safety.Ryanair flight FR4978 was travelling from the Greek capital, Athens, to Vilnius in Lithuania on Sunday 23 May when it made an abrupt change of course over Belarus, some 10km (six miles) from the Lithuanian border. According to an unverified transcript from the Belarusian transport ministry, air traffic controllers told the pilot at 09:30 GMT "you have [a] bomb on board and it can be activated over Vilnius". Even though the plane was closer to Vilnius than Minsk, the pilot was told to divert to the Belarusian capital. At 09:47 the pilot declared an emergency. As the plane landed witnesses said Roman Protasevich, an opposition Belarusian journalist, was "super scared", and one quoted him as saying "I'll get the death penalty here". He had been charged in absentia with inciting mass protests, but Belarus's KGB security agency also placed him on a list of "individuals involved in terrorist activity". When the plane's 126 passengers disembarked, police arrested Mr Protasevich and Sofia Sapega, a Russian citizen studying in Lithuania. Three other passengers were listed as remaining in Minsk. The other passengers were allowed on to the plane, which flew on to Vilnius around seven hours later. And even now, aviation advisors and safety boards are not fully sure what happened.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government has declared Covid restrictions will not be renewed at the end of January, as the worst of the Omicron wave looks to have passed. But does that mean you should jump for that holiday booking right away? I take a look at the good and the bad of booking now and what an extra thrill a last minute booking when you're more aware of the travel restrictions, can be.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the airlines jostling for your hard-earned holiday plans, I've got to thinking about which city in central Europe is best for a city break this year. I put the question to my Twitter followers, with a choice of four cities: Vienna, Prague, Bratislava or Budapest. Which city did my followers go for and did I think they made the right choice?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's podcast I begin with some apologies. I got the location of the Sky Garden in London wrong and wasn't quite right about Britain's number two holiday destination. I must also make an apology for once again talking about France! In this episode, I'm reflecting on the costs of travel to and from Britain to Paris, as my Eurostar quote had me scrambling for alternative methods. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As UK travelers are allowed to return to France, caution remains with strict rules on masks.In Paris, it is still very possible to enjoy the delights of the French capital. Due to the very recent lifting of restrictions it is still largely free of tourists, which may mean it's a good time to visit.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has lifted the travel restrictions for UK travellers as Omicron waves come and go. Hurrah! I hear you shout. But before you dash off to the Eurostar terminal there's still plenty to consider in regards to what you need to have to be able to travel without hassle.PCRs, LFTs and points of entry will all be discussed as I find my way to France when the travel ban is lifted, which is some time on Friday 14th January (they've not actually said when yet.)Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All you need to know about the travel restrictions in France and when UK travellers might be able to return.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SNCF, the French state-owned railway network, are reintroducing some classic old-fashioned trains, under the brand name Ouigo, which will mean longer travel times but cheaper tickets and a novelty passenger experience.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Bar Elba to Greenwich Park, where are the best vantage points to get panoramic views of London for free?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations but France is continuing with its travel ban from the UK unless you're a French citizen. Initially put in place as Omicron spread rapidly in the UK, the variant has now reached everywhere across the globe, including France - so is the blunt instrument of travel bans dead or are we seeing more political motivations afoot?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been 24hrs since the news that UK travellers will have less stringent testing requirements coming in and out of the country. But what do they actually require us to do? Simon Calder looks at the government's plans and picks his way through so you won't find yourself getting stung before or after the changes are implemented.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take you through the UK government's announcement that from 4am on Friday, international travel is about to become a lot less burdensome. That's right, those of us who are double vaccinated will no long have to take pre-departure Covid tests. They will also not be required to self-isolate while awaiting tests. I'll tell you what that means in practical terms and where restrictions may still be.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take a look at the state of UK air travel following the disastrous past two years for the aviation industry. While some countries and airlines have pulled themselves out of the fire, the UK's reliance on cheap flights to myriad destinations has meant it is taking longer to recover from the effects of the pandemic. The situation has not been helped by the Omicron variant either, meaning that the start of 2022 is looking very turbulent indeed for UK air companies.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the new normal for air travel look like? I speak with aviation luminary Tim Jeans, former MD of Monarch and chairman of Newquay airport, to find out what he thinks will happen in the aviation industry and how we'll all adapt to flying after the pandemic.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take a look at the milestones and anniversaries coming our way in January.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southern Railways has announced today that because of staff illness and isolation periods, it will not have any services travelling into London Victoria until the 10th January. I take a look at the announcement and how it's a problem repeated across the country at the moment due to Omicron's spread. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan. Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone. I wonder what Christina Rossetti would have made of the state of the world today if she had been able to see it. Earth may not be stood hard as iron, but it is certainly at something of a standstill. With the wave of of Omicron variant, travel at this time of year has become very tricky indeed. So, will it return any time soon?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this gap between Christmas and the new year, the country's rail network undergoes a huge amount of engineering work. For those of us who are using trains during this time, planning journeys can be tricky. And, now, the Omicron Covid variant is causing even more issues.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. This week between Christmas and New Year is always unique. Family coming and going, wondering what day it is... visiting the capital city? This is the perfect week to do it, so get out there!Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas one and all and hopefully you've made it this far without needing to self-isolate and can share it with loved ones. In this episode, I'm explaining to those who've found themselves needing to travel on Christmas Day itself how you can do in the UK without needing to hitchhike.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach Christmas Eve, I take a look at the state of play across roads, rail and air travel as those of us not isolating try to make our way to family and friends for Christmas. The railways are currently the most disrupted, with last minute cancellations due to coronavirus cases and looming railworks meaning it might be better to get away sooner rather than later.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take you through the train timetables and the pressure points on service this Christmas time. With coronavirus cases rocketing, expect last minute cancellations on top of rail works and strike action - I'll take you through your rights as a consumer if it happens to you.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With restrictions being tightened across Europe and parts of the UK, but not England, Boris Johnson has announced before Christmas, I take a look at what your travel plans are currently looking like and what you should do if you find your destination suddenly changing guidance.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As restrictions tighten in the UK and across the world, I take a look at what the new travel rules may mean for your Christmas holidays and travel.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today the government have announced the raising of train fares in the new year. I take a look at the complicated world of rail fares and why they need to be increased, as well as how to get the best price for your travel.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has announced that travellers from the UK will no longer be allowed, unless the person is a French national. I look at what you can and can't do with the new directive and how the immediate future of travel looks as Omicron's wave of infections take hold across the world.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at Gatwick airport, where a new route is a reason for celebration as Nequay becomes accessible from Gatwick airport. But should we be flying? I speak with Adam Wheatley, Managing Director of Eastern Airways. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eurostar finds itself in trouble as the British government decides to impose draconian restrictions on inbound tourism.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rail timetables have changed and I take a look at where they've improved for rail passengers and where the operating companies and Network Rail must try harder.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I've seen the numbers for inbound tourism to Britain and it's a horror show for December. I explain why inbound tourism matters both for Britain and elsewhere and why the government's plans are adding to coronavirus woes.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could travel testing and self-isolation soon end? The health secretary, Sajid Javid, seems to think so, if his comments when announcing the introduction of Plan B measures to tackle the Omicron variant. Simon Calder tries to pick his way through the announcements and what it means for travellers.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been taking a look at the numbers and the journeys being taken in the UK by rail are still low, with November only have 70% of the usage from 2019. A lack of travellers, particularly work commuters, could mean ticket prices rising as train companies and the treasury's forecasts and modelling run increasingly askew.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been thinking about the latest covid travel rules and how the three day break might be the saviour to getting some travel in and not falling foul of the rules around coronavirus testing or being forced to quarantine abroad.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The key details of the new Covid travel restrictions, what will change and when?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.