Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

I have managed to swerve the worst of the wintry weather in the UK. I booked a £501 return flight to Tampa on the west coast of Florida and headed south to the city of Bradenton, which offers kayaking through revived mangrove – and a working fishing village. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Motoring in America is different from the UK. I'm driving along in an automobile with the cinematographer and director Douglas Bolton, who's an expert on US motoring. He's been putting me right about the key points to be aware of. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's newsletter. Sign up here for a weekly update. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bradford begins its year as the UK City of Culture with an extraordinary opening event on January 10th. Simon Calder speaks with Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of the program, about the city's rich industrial heritage, stunning architecture, and diverse culture. From the Brontës’ wild moors to the newly reopened Science and Media Museum, Bradford promises a year of artistic innovation and exploration.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid headlines warning of skyrocketing airfares due to a new "flight tax," Simon Calder unpacks the reality of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate. It's not a tax, nor Labour’s policy, but a step towards greener aviation adopted under Conservative leadership.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Smith, the Man in Seat 61, joins Simon Calder to unravel the myth of a 13-country rail journey. They discuss the route’s logistical impossibilities, the story’s viral origins, and how it fuels excitement for international train travel.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A third chaotic weekend in a row for the UK's airline passengers. Normally we expect disruption over Christmas but by the time it's the 6th of January things clear up, but not this year I'm afraid. We are talking serious flight disruption, the fog and snow are partly responsible.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s podcast, I speak with Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 Holidays and Jet2.com, about the airline’s ambitious expansion in 2025, including new bases in Bournemouth and Luton. We discuss the growing holiday demand, the company’s award-winning customer service, and the retirement of their last Boeing 757 this weekend, marking the transition to a cleaner, quieter Airbus A321neo fleet.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sue Heath was removed from her British Airways flight to Malta just before Christmas, despite her UK passport meeting all post-Brexit EU entry requirements. In today’s podcast, I explore the alarming misunderstanding of passport rules by BA staff at Gatwick and the implications for travellers, sharing insights into Sue’s experience and advice for passengers facing similar issues.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025 and with it I'm sure there's a renewed optimism for places to visit and sights to see. So, I've run down the list of where I think is a great place to visit - all within five hours travel time of the UK. This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.That list in full:January - BradfordFebruary - ViennaMarch - TromsoApril - SarajevoMay - RotterdamJune - BelfastJuly - KyivAugust - St John’sSeptember - ThessalonikiOctober - TangierNovember - ConstantineDecember - Krakow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s podcast, British Airways’ controversial changes to its Executive Club are now rebranded as the British Airways Club. From April 2024, loyalty will be tied directly to spending, making it harder for budget travellers to earn perks like lounge access and seat upgrades. I discuss how the revamped system impacts frequent flyers, with insights from industry experts on whether this shift rewards loyalty—or alienates economy travellers.This podcast is free, much like The Independent Travel newsletter. Subscribe here and get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at my favourite airport hotel anywhere: the Thistle Terminal 5, which is not quite at London Heathrow Terminal 5 but has a priceless terrace overlooking the northern runway. I list the reasons why you'd enjoy stopping here before flying out of Heathrow Airport - as well as asking a plane spotter what he's taking a look at.This podcast is free, much like The Independent Travel newsletter. Subscribe here and get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas doesn't like Eurostar. Last year, a sudden strike by Eurotunnel staff thwarted thousands of passengers. And today the first London-Paris train broke down in the Channel Tunnel. Elsewhere, issues with some services from London Euston but train services on a whole are looking ok for what was scheduled to be running today.This podcast is free, as is the weekly Independent Travel newsletter. Get that here and have it posted to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boxing Day – and many people are on the move around Britain. But how easily will they be able to travel? I’m at London St Pancras International, the UK’s best connected rail station – at least in normal times. In this episode, I run through what the train timetables look like as Network Rail runs engineering works across the network but if you're looking to catch the Boxing Day races in Liverpool, you're in luck.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A round-up of all the festive travel disruption!This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While travel unravels across the UK, I have escaped to Vienna – where I caught up with Helena Steinhart of the Vienna Tourist Board. She tells me about Christmas celebrations, why January to March is a good time to be in the city and how Vienna differs from central European rivals Budapest and Prague. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week before Christmas, loads of people are going to be travelling by train. I'm at London Blackfriars talking to Samantha Facey, Health, Safety and Security Director at the UK's biggest train operator, GTR, about staying safe.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of Christmas travellers hoping to cross the Irish Sea by ferry face disruption due to Storm Darragh damage. The port of Holyhead – which provides the main ferry connection between Great Britain and Ireland – has been closed since last weekend, with no sailings to or from Dublin. Normally Stena Line and Irish Ferries have four daily ferries each way between the Anglesey and the Irish capital. Hundreds of motorists and foot passengers use the link each day, with “Rail & Sail” fares offered from stations in Wales, England and Scotland to Dublin. Holyhead-Dublin is also the main freight connection between Great Britain and the Republic. The port was damaged during “two separate berthing incidents” during Storm Darragh – the wild weather that swept across Wales on 6 and 7 December. No injuries were reported. Stena Line and Irish Ferries have cancelled all sailings between Dublin and Holyhead until Friday 20 December at the earliest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by National Express chief executive Alex Jensen.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucky for some, in particular passengers on Avanti West Coast who have just been told the train managers' strike for 22, 23 and 29 December has been called off because an improved offer has been made. Plenty of problems remain, however. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast is all about Frantic Friday, Slow Saturday and Messy Monday, the unholy trinity of busy days on the motorways of Britain in the build-up to Christmas.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past few years, rail strikes have become as synonymous with Christmas as Mariah Carey and Wham! The incoming Labour government vowed to “move fast and fix things” in transport; ministers and officials quickly settled the train drivers’ dispute with a 15 per cent pay award covering three years. But stoppages are back for Christmas 2024 on the intercity network linking London Euston with the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales and southern Scotland. Train managers belonging to the RMT union and working for Avanti West Coast will walk out on some of the busiest days of the year: Sunday 22, Monday 23 and Sunday 29 December. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent survey has revealed that the UK has the most expensive domestic trains in Europe. It does not compute for me.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm looking back at the damage from Storm Darragh and Storm Burt to travel plans, and wondering if aviation and rail could be more resilient.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am at London Paddington station, hub for the Great Western Railway serving the West of England and South Wales. There's disruption to many trains here and elsewhere in the country due to the earlier failure of the Network Rail communications system, known as GSM-R.This is an embarrassment for the government in a week in which ministers have assured the public that train delays can only get better.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at the junction of Andrew Young International Boulevard and Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, which is a complete surprise to me because I'm supposed to be in London, England. Unfortunately Delta Airlines had different ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm trying to make sense of the government's announcement of the first three train operators to be brought back into public ownership.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm talking with Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, about the airline's operation at London Gatwick airport. The disruption on 22 November caused by a security scare was a headache for airlines and their passengers; Marion tells me about how the airline handled it. March 2025 will see the deployment of a new mid-to-long-haul aircraft for Wizz Air at Gatwick, which initially will serve Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition when they travel on holiday to our favourite foreign destination, but from today, the government in Madrid is expecting to collect a lot more data from travellers.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Untangling the red tape of global travel with Samantha McKnight, vice-president of Client Solutions for CIBTvisas in London.Subscribe to The Independent Travel newsletter. It arrives in your inbox every Friday, so make sure you're on the list here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I have been covering two big railway stories: the roll-out of a new £1bn fleet of trains, known as Arterio, at London Waterloo; and, the remarkable news that the taxpayer is currently subsidising the railways to the tune of £12.5bn a year. That is a difficult figure to conceive, so I have calculated a less-cumbersome figure: £400 of public money per second. To his credit, Stuart Meek – interim managing director of South Western Railway – explains why the railways deserve support. He also believes his new suburban trains are as good as any in Europe, and will delight tourists heading for attractions such as Hampton Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am talking to the present – and future – bosses of Britain's biggest budget airline, easyJet, about the latest financial figures and the year ahead. Current CEO Johan Lundgren is leaving at the end of the year, and current CFO Kenton Jarvis is taking over at the top. Apologies for the less-than-perfect audio quality, as I explain, the interviews were done on the hop.For a more crystal clear picture, do subscribe to The Independent Travel newsletter. Arriving in your inbox every Friday, you can make sure you're on the list here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ant Stone, Director of Marketing EMEA for G Adventures, tells me about how Pakistan and Tibet are opening up – and that he's a backpacker at heart.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holiday prices and air fares surge during school holidays compared with term times – two, three or four times as much. Always has been the case, always will be. Or will it?I'm talking to aviation expert Jonathan Hinkles, who is hoping to persuade the government that action short of legislation is the answer.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast guest is Paul Goldstein, wildlife guide and photographer who is just back from leading a tour in the Pantanal of Brazil – where he reports dozens of jaguar sightings.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Office of Rail and Road has released the latest figures on the UK's busiest – and quietest – rail stations. London's Elizabeth Line dominates the table – but worryingly, there are three stations with fewer than two passengers a week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Brown CBE has been one of the leading railway figures in the UK for four decades – including 11 years as chief executive and then chairman of Eurostar, the Channel Tunnel passenger rail service. He has just brought out a book – Changing Times, Changing Trains – in which he prescribes what is needed to turn around the fortunes of the UK's increasingly unhappy rail industry.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Travel Desk Tuesday for The Independent's travel podcast, and today I am talking to travel writer Amelia Neath about a new Wales-England-Scotland train link; an unfortunate legal case of Norovirus on a cruise ship; and Spirit Airlines entering bankruptcy – though not in a way that should alarm anyone with a forward booking on the US budget carrier.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's travel podcast for The Independent, I am talking to Ranjiv Bhalla – founder and chief executive of Veenus Travel, which organises high-end heritage steam train journeys in the UK. What's the appeal of a Bristol to Plymouth day-trip costing nearly £1,000. Ranjiv says: you'll feel like a superstar.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m at London St Pancras International with transport guru, Thomas Ableman. How do Paddington, Marylebone and Euston compare – and which is his overall winner?This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m at London St Pancras International with transport guru Thomas Ableman. How does he rate the station, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, and Victoria?This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 30 years tomorrow since the first ever Eurostar train. I'm talking to the culture and history specialist from France 24, Florence Gaillard. We're talking about how the French look at the UK.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Travel Desk Tuesday I'm talking to Ben Parker about Dorset about how it's become a cool trendy secret. Perched on the south of the UK, Dorset is a hidden gem between Devon and Cornwall. If you head there you could try Sherborne Abbey amongst the hills, or you could check out Shaftesbury or go in land and explore the area Thomas Hardy wrote about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today will see the first easyJet flight from Gatwick to Luxor take off, opening up southern Egypt to travellers. Philip Breckner, director of Discover Egypt, tells me about the opportunities around Luxor and Aswan on the Nile.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am talking to Harald Henning, director of the German National Tourist Office in the UK, in a tiny Trabant car. Almost 35 years ago he bought one in Berlin for £25 and drove it to London as a competition prize. He recalls the unification of German – and talks about what makes the capital so special.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, in the company of Roland Hunter – founder of The Mountain Company and an expert on trekking in the Himalayas.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I love a new niche guidebook and I'm particularly curious about Travel Guides For The Wine Curious. Today I'm interviewing Adam Lechmere, Publishing Director of Acadmy Du Vin, to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monaco Grand Prix week and I'm interviewing out Global Travel Editor, Annabel Grossman, who has been there, about the travel and hotel experiences of the super rich in Monaco.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm interviewing Mark Tanzer the CEO of Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to discuss the travel industry and the European entry-exit system. According to him the travel industry appears to be recovering steadily from the pandemic. Investors are looking to join the industry, people are continuing to prioritise experiences and travel agents could make a comeback.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most airlines overbook their seats, in fact you and I have probably both flown on an overbooked flight. How do you feel about that? I don't mind at all, I think it's great that you can ask an airline for a last minute flight and they're more likely to give you a seat, worrying about the specifics later on. Here's how I benefit from overbooking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been travelling on the Eurostar for nearly 30 years now since it's launch in November 1994. But recently, I've been finding that the eye-watering prices has meant I've rather fallen out of the habit. In this episode though I take a look at Eurostar Snap, which is a ticket scheme aimed at making the most of an opportunity for the right price.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.