Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
1,358 episodes — Page 9 of 28
November 11th - Fast track to Luxor
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.
November 8th - Wall's Well That Ends Well: Remembering the Fall of the Berlin Wall
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.
November 7th - Peaks & Perks: A Kathmandu Chat about trekking the Himalayas
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.
November 6th - Feeling curious about Travel Guides For The Wine Curious
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.
November 5th - How a billionaire would enjoy Monaco
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.
November 4th - Are people moving back to using travel agents?
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.
Novemeber 1st - Why airlines overbook seats
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.
October 31st - Oh mon Dieu! How to avoid Eurostar's high fares
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.
October 30th - The Eurostar Bargain Hunt
Snap up a Eurostar bargain? I’m back at London St Pancras International, home of the Channel Tunnel rail firm, with an exploration of the new discount tickets for passengers prepared to book late and have no choice about the departure time on the day they choose to travel.This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 29th - Why Pembrokeshire is our Global Travel Editor's favourite place to visit
It's Travel Desk Tuesday which means we're interviewing Annabel Grossman, Global Travel Editor for The Independent, who says that when asked about her favourite place to go in the world she keeps thinking of Pembrokeshire. From St Davids to Tenby to some of the most beautiful coasts in the world the county has a lot to offer.This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 28th - Allies in the sky: What happens when airlines make alliances
SAS airlines recently made the shift from Star Alliance to Sky Team. Rhys Jones, writer at Head For Points, explains what that actually means. Rhys talks us through how alliances work and why they exist, as well as what 'codesharing' mean in airline lingo.This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 25th - More holidayers are choosing unusual months to travel
As we enter the cusp of winter you might assume that travellers are reducing however according to my guest, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of advantage today people, who have the option, are increasingly choosing unconventional times of the year to go away.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 24th - The airline you can't buy a ticket for
Today I'm speaking to Alastair Willson, Chief Executive of Ascend Airways. His airline help other airlines overcome operational difficulty by supplying the aircraft and the cabin crew for them. As the industry becomes increasingly seasonal, with there being a huge difference between the number of summer flyers compared to the winter, Ascend Airways can step in for these disparities.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 23rd - How Taylor Swift gave Heathrow Airport take off this summer
The third-quarter financial results from the UK’s biggest airport are out –I’ve been hearing the details from chief financial officer Sally Ding about passenger numbers and how Taylor Swift's Era Tour gave a late-summer surge for travel hubs like Heathrow Airport.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 22nd - The new singles friendly couples resort
What happens when a single female goes to a couples’ resort in the Caribbean? Find out from Natalie Wilson, who recently returned from Sandals St Vincent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 21st - Pounds, Dollars, and plastic: navigating travel currency
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kaya Niedenthal of Currency Online Group to discuss the recent fluctuations in currency markets, how the strength of the pound and dollar impacts travel, and why cash still plays a vital role—even in an era dominated by plastic payments. We also delve into tips for getting the best rates and why some places still prefer good old-fashioned cash. This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 18th - The real business with business-class
You pay a fortune for a business-class ticket because you want to experience the sumptuous new comfort of the latest generation of the premium product – and then the airline changes the plane type and you're back with a seat that is almost prehistoric in modern aviation terms. Rob Burgess, founder of the frequent-flyer website Head for Points, is demanding a suite guarantee.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 17th - Heathrow's layover letdown
Yesterday I was at Gatwick – today it's Heathrow, the one true hub airport in the UK. Within six months, transit passengers changing between international flights will need to pay £10 and fill in an online form for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – making the UK's policy completely at odds with other nations. Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris CDG, Istanbul, and Dubai will be celebrating yet another goal.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 16th - Winter is coming
Winter is coming – and for UK airports that can spell trouble. I'm at London Gatwick, talking to Chief Operating Officer Mark Johnston about preparations for ice and snow at the world's busiest single-runway airport. Plans include polar bears and yetis...This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 15th - Surfing the Royal waves
Travel Desk Tuesday today features Ben Parker, UK travel editor (and secret surfer), who has returned from an island-hopping trip around Hawaii – where he learned about the links between Hawaiian royalty and the British monarchy.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 14th - Craving a sunny winter retreat? I recommend Egypt
By mid-October many of us are looking at options for winter sun. For my money, the optimum combination of great weather, ancient history and good value is to be found in Egypt. I'm talking to Philip Breckner, director of Discover Egypt, about the options – and the prospects of the much-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum opening later this month.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 11th - The EU Entry Exit System won't darken our doorways just yet
The EU Entry Exit System has been postponed again. But when it is rolled out it could delay our entrance to the Schengen Area. Here's what it means for you ...This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 10th - Airlines land back in city shops!
The airline city-centre ticket office is making a comeback. In the 20th century, every airline had walk-in shops in all the major cities served. But that was in the bad old days of extremely high fares that could pay for lavish rentals in areas like Mayfair. They disappeared when online booking took hold. But this week Emirates has opened a fancy new store in Kensington, west London, where prospective passengers can try out posh seats and buy merchandise – and plane tickets.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 9th - The worst motorway in England
England's worst motorway is the M42 south and east of Birmingham, according to a new survey of over 9,000 motorists by Transport Focus.I've been finding out more about this despised dual carriageway – and what can be done to improve the driver experience – with Alex Robertson, chief executive of the independent watchdog.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 8th - Frozen trails: skiing Norway’s "little Antarctica"
In this episode, Simon Calder chats with Annabel Grossman about her intense skiing journey through the isolated landscape of Fins, Norway. Known as “Little Antarctica,” this region tests even the most experienced explorers. Annabel reflects on her trek, led by polar explorer Wendy Searle, and shines a spotlight on the untold stories of women thriving in extreme adventure travel.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 7th - The Great West Way prepares for Jane Austen's 250th anniversary
The Great West Way is a marketing enterprise for the corridor from London to Bristol – taking in Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, and the Roman Baths in Bath. Next year promises to be busy, with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. I heard more from Fiona Errington, head of marketing, and Florence Wallace, head of travel trade for the GWW.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 4th - The best region to buy wine according to Jilly Goolden
Ahead of the weekend, where's best to be a wine tourist around the globe? I'm talking to the doyenne of wine experts, Jilly Goolden – who has great things to say about English wine, and visiting vineyards in Sussex and the Cotswolds. But don't offer her a glass of prosecco ...This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 3rd - How Finnair is dealing with the closed Russian airspace
Finnair is an intriguing airline. The national carrier of Finland carved a Nordic niche offering great connections through its Helsinki hub between western Europe, including London Heathrow and Manchester, and east Asia – thanks to a fast track across Siberia. The closure of Russian airspace means it has had to rethink its strategy. I've been talking to Turkka Kuusisto, the new chief executive of Finnair.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 2nd - Is it possible to have a sustainable cruise ship?
Cruise lines are often condemned for the environmental impact they have on the planet. But Ponant, the upmarket French small-ship expedition line, has a head of sustainability, Wassim Daoud, who is focused on cutting emissions – and the impact on nature and communities. He also talks about "training" tourists – we could do with more of that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 1st - How you end up eating KFC in a hotel in a Mallorca
In a new feature, Travel Desk Tuesday, I talk to one of my excellent colleagues at The Independent about their recent journeys. First up: Natalie Wilson, who flew to Mallorca with some trepidation after a summer of writing about over tourism – but her worst experience was having to dine on KFC in her hotel room because all the restaurants had closed.Sign up for the Travel newsletter by The Independent, available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 30th - A blockbuster exhibition at the British Museum
I'm at the British Museum in London where a blockbuster exhibition called Silk Roads has just opened – exploring the tangle of connections that linked communities as far apart as Scotland, Ireland, Ethiopia and Japan, as well as the more familiar lands of China, and central Asia. My guest is the world's foremost expert on the Silk Roads, and guiding mind for the new exhibition, Professor Peter Frankopan.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 27th - There was a strange message on the Network Rail landing page
I'm at London Waterloo, home of Network Rail. But I am not using the public WiFi – the system has been taken down since the landing page was replaced by a strange message about terrorist acts in Europe. It appears this was not a hack, but the act of someone working for the company that provides the landing page. Hopefully the system will be up and running by the weekend. Meanwhile, if you are using on-train WiFi, you may struggle to connect with the podcast ... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 26th - Should we have a frequent flyer levy?
Anna Hughes, the distinguished director of FlightFree UK, has been telling me about how she believes a frequent-flyer levy could and should work to reduce the amount of flights we take.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 25th - How far would you fly without any in-flight frills?
Today's travel podcast: How far would you fly in no-frills (dis-) comfort? Natalie Wilson, travel writer for The Independent, says she would gladly go all the way to Australia if it saved her cash. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 24th - The business of business class in Europe
The all-knowing Rob Burgess, formidable founder of the Head for Points frequent-flyer website, explains the intricacies of business class flying within Europe; how you can sample long-haul comfort on a short-haul flight; and why you don't want to be further back than row 12 on a British Airways A320.This podcast is free, as is the Independent Travel weekly newsletter. Get up-to-date deals and news directly to your inbox by signing up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 23rd - Holiday horizons
It's all about booking horizons. How long in advance are people committing to holidays – and what "new" destination are in sight? Questions for Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, representing 750 travel agents.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 20th - From Poros with Love
I have the good fortune to be on the Greek island of Poros in the company of Melanie and Andy McCreddie – Londoners who are in love with this place. Andy was first here, under less-than-optimal circumstances, but now they both love the island and its people.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 19th - The top ten most crowded trains list is out
Commuting can be no fun if you happen to use the morning rush-hour trains from Bedford to London. Here's the top 10 most crowded trains in England and Wales, just published. But the most concerning point of the new Department for Transport (DfT) figures is the degree of undercrowding, with barely half of seats filled on the average peak-hour service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 18th - A lawyer's take on airport drop off charges
Most UK airports now charge for drop-offs and pick-ups at the terminal. They enforce the rule by imposing heavy penalties on motorists who breach the rules. But the leading consumer lawyer, Gary Rycroft, believes many of the "fines" imposed by airports – or the firms to which they have outsourced – may not have followed the correct procedure and may not be enforcible.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 17th - Stretching the Limits
Wizz Air says it will fly the narrow-bodied Airbus A321XLR from London Gatwick to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. What's the future for "long, thin" routes flown by, well, long, thin aircraft? I've been talking to long, thin Rhys Jones from the frequent-flyer website Head for Points.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 16th - Here's the Not Hot List 2025
My guest is Hazel McGuire of Intrepid Travel, who has just unveiled the Not Hot List 2025 – countries off the beaten tourist track.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 13th - How many of us can get by without a car?
Can you really enjoy life without a car? I'm talking to the transport guru Thomas Ableman, who also happens to be co-author – with his wife, Helen – of the Carefree Car-free blog. Helen has a unique claim to fame: she passed her driving test first time aged 17, and has not driven since then. Thomas has never learnt, and tells me he's very happy like that.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 12th - What new travel charges will mean for Northern Ireland
The new ETA for visitors to the UK could cost Northern Ireland tourism £250m a year. I've been hearing why from Dr Joanne Stuart, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 11th - Are UK Airports soaring higher than ever?
As Heathrow, Manchester, and Stansted airports announce record passenger numbers, I'm talking to Anna Hughes – director of Flight Free UK, who has a different perspective on travel.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 10th - Life under communism in Durres, Albania
I'm in Durres, Albania, the most historic city in the nation – finding out about life under communism with former student revolutionary, now tour guide, Arjana Isaku. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 9th - When will we see our "beautiful British -built busses"?
Today's travel podcast is from the top of the 148 bus in west London. Four years after Boris Johnson promised to “level up across the country” with “beautiful, British-built buses that are cleaner, greener, quieter, safer and more frequent”, the new transport secretary, Louise Haigh, has vowed to start a "bus revolution". But will it work?This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 6th - Is there a chronic problem with BA?
I'm in Hyères in southern France, at my usual breakfast spot, the Café Regence, but picking up news of dozens of flight cancellations on British Airways to and from London Heathrow. Is there a chronic problem with BA at the UK's busiest airport? Do passengers have any hope of compensation? And will events like this lead people to book on more resilient airlines?This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 5th - How to bring your pet overseas post Brexit
Do you have to be barking mad to take a dog from the UK to Continental Europe these days? I'm talking to Dr Julia Ferguson, who is in the south of France with her lovely dog Bonnie.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 4th - Why you should travel all the way to Fiji
I'm talking to Jane West who represents Fiji, the South Pacific archipelago that's hard to reach but loads of fun when you get there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 3rd - Waterloo Spoons: A Toast to the New Lion's Den!
What makes a railway pub different? Wetherspoon's The Lion & The Unicorn pub in London Waterloo is the company's biggest so far. I've visited on the pub's opening morning and talked to Barry Brewster of JD Wetherspoon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.