The Travel Diaries

It’s Season 12! And today’s guest is a truly special season opener - someone whose vibrant personality, culinary expertise, and passion for storytelling has made her a beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course we are joined by the fabulous, Andi Oliver.Andi is a multi-talented dynamo who has worn many hats throughout her illustrious career. She’s a renowned chef, a charismatic TV presenter, and a celebrated musician. From her early days as a punk rock singer in the band Rip Rig + Panic alongside the legendary Neneh Cherry, to her captivating presence on shows like "The Great British Menu" and "Beat the Chef", to working as a restauranteur and writing best selling cookbooks, and hosting her fantastic podcast Stirring it Up with her daughter Miquita, Andi’s life has truly had many many chapters.We discuss her Antiguan heritage, her special connection to the island and what that has meant to her over the years, as well as, on a more serious note, the challenges she has faced being a woman of Caribbean descent in the UK. We’ll delve into the stories behind her favourite dishes, her culinary inspirations, and much more.So, buckle up and join us as we get started with Andi.Destination Recap:Holly -Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, MykonosAndi - Limassol, Cyprus Suffolk, EnglandAntiguaThe Pepperpot Rum Shop, AntiguaNew York City, NY, USAModena, ItalyMexico Mexico City, MexicoPlaya del Muerte, Mexico KenyaSoldier Bay, Antigua Barbuda Nobu Barbuda Northcote Hall, Blackburn, EnglandPlates London - Plant-Based Restaurant & Food Studio, London, England Puerto Rico San Antonio, Texas, USASpainJapan With thanks to Curtain Bluff hotel in Antigua who are supporting today’s episode. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the Season 11 finale and to celebrate we’ve got a cosmic treat for you as we rocket into the mesmerising realm of space with the legendary British astronaut Tim Peake. A Space Destination Special, if you will - though we do cover some destinations here on planet earth, too, of course!Tim honed his skills as a test pilot and helicopter pilot in the British Army Air Corps. After nearly 18 years of military service, he spotted an ad from the European Space Agency (ESA) to become an astronaut. After a rigorous selection process with over 8,000 hopefuls, Tim was chosen as one of ESA's astronauts in 2009, marking the beginning of his journey to the stars.Fast forward to 2015, and Tim's dream of spaceflight became a reality as he launched aboard a spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). During his six-month mission he conducted over 250 scientific experiments and became the first British astronaut in history to perform a spacewalk.It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to interview an astronaut, and there was so much I wanted to ask Tim, specifically about space, that I’ve cut down the chapters format this week, we’re going through the five chapters of his travel diaries. This was one of the most fascinating interviews I’ve had the pleasure of hosting on the podcast. Among many things we cover the claustrophobic Subterranean cave training in Sardinia that prepared him for life on the space station, we deep dive into his take on the existence of extra terrestrial life, he shares his views on the future of space tourism, and the innovations that are just around the corner taking place on the space station that could revolutionise healthcare, but most interesting I found was his view of the earth and how that in turn has fuelled his wanderlust. I really hope you enjoy this one. Destination Recap: Briançon, South of France Sardinia, Italy Alaska, USAPrince William Sound, Alaska, USADenali National Park, Alaska, USAInternational Space StationSahara DesertPatagoniaMadagascar BahamasSpaceNepalIndonesia Fancy seeing Tim live? He is heading on tour with his show Astronauts: The Quest To Explore Space which will bring the awe and wonder of space travel past, present and future to 25 venues across England, Scotland and Wales this autumn.As thank you to you my lovely listeners, I have one more rather epic competition for you to enter. This is to win a stay at one of the most iconic British hotels, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in the beautiful New Forest in England. Head over to my Instagram @hollyrubenstein to find out how to win an irresistible Eat, Sleep, Retreat overnight stay with a spa treatment, lunch, three course dinner, and breakfast the next morning. I’m so excited for this one, good luck.With thanks to my sponsors today - Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s bonus Destination Special episode, we are heading to the sun-soaked Mediterranean archipelago that is Magnificent Malta.Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, about 3 hours direct flight from England, Malta is a stunning island nation with a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Imagine rugged cliffs overlooking crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches framed by ancient fortresses, and bustling towns adorned with colourful balconies and cobblestone streets. Geographically, Malta is composed of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Each island has its own distinct character which we discover on our episode today with the help of someone who is perfectly placed to bring Malta to life. Uwern Jong is a journalist, editor and inclusive-tourism advocate, who co-founded OutThere magazine, a luxury travel magazine and essential resource for LGBTQ+ travellers, nearly 15 years ago. We head on a journey from the bustling capital city of Valletta with its UNESCO-listed fortifications to the tranquil countryside of Gozo and the serene beaches of Comino. Whether you're a film aficionado, a foodie, an adventurer, or simply looking to soak up the sun on a stunning beach, Malta has something for everyone. So join us as we uncover the hidden gems, local secrets, and unforgettable experiences that make this island nation truly magnificent.Destination Recap:Cugo Gran Macina Malta hotel Valletta Three Cities St. Julian'sGozoThe Blue Lagoon CominoIniala Harbour House hotelIon at Harbour House restaurant Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Malta, Gozo Thirtyseven hotel, GozoSeafood Beach Shack, MġarrMdina Rabat Ancient Ruins, Gozo and Malta island If you’re now desperate to find out more about Malta, don’t forget all of your favourite travel publications will have guides online, as will the tourist board website, which is always a great resource, which is visitmalta.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode I’m joined by a titan of the travel industry, Yolanda Edwards.Formerly the creative director of Condé Nast Traveler in the US, Yolanda went on to launch the critically acclaimed Yolo Journal, a quarterly travel lifestyle magazine, which showcases real finds from interesting people around the world, not just industry insiders. Its accompanied by a weekly newsletter, which is a huge favourite among in the know travel lovers.She also has the prestigious title of US and Canada Academy Chair for the World’s 50 Best Hotels which we discuss a bit on this episode - as a hotel enthusiast it was really fascinating to hear which properties stand out to her. The story behind Yolanda falling in love with travel is a really interesting one that I didn’t know before this chat. She had a sheltered childhood where travel really wasn’t on the agenda, and it was a transformative cultural immersion program on a remote Greek island where Yolanda’s innate curiosity and love for travel was truly ignited. And the rest you could say was history, as nowadays Yolanda is non stop travelling the globe. Her travel diaries today take us on a grand tour around Europe through the highlights and hidden gems of Italy, France and Greece. So fasten your seatbelts as we explore the fascinating life and career of a true travel trailblazer.Destination Recap: Rome, Italy Milan, Italy Mykonos, Greece Kalymnos, Greece Medoc, France Il Pelicano, Port Ecole, ItalyLa Colombe D’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, FranceCap Ferret, France Lynch-Bages, Frane Tulum, Mexico Palazzo Durazzo, Genoa, Italy IndiaCheck out YOLO Journal and follow Yolanda on Instagram here. With thanks to my sponsors today - Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s destination special, we are embarking on a journey to the jewel of the Caribbean, just 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, adorned with a tapestry of turquoise waters, golden beaches, and emerald-green rainforests. The enchanting island of Saint Lucia. Having visited many Caribbean islands myself, Saint Lucia is one that truly sets itself apart, in part because of its enormously diverse landscape. The famous Piton mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, frame a lush rainforest that cascades down to meet the powdery sandy shores below.And let's talk about the warmth of its people. St Lucia isn't just a destination; it's a welcoming embrace from the moment you arrive. With easy year-round access from the UK, including daily flights from London Gatwick and seasonal options from London Heathrow, getting there is a breeze.You're spoiled for choice with accommodation. From the unparalleled luxury of Jade Mountain, featured on BBC's Amazing Hotels, to the romance-infused retreats of Sandals, and an array of cosy boutique hotels and villas, there's something for every traveller's taste and budget.And let's not forget the vibrant culture pulsating through St Lucia's veins, with events like the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and Carnival adding rhythm and colour to the calendar year-round.And our guest today knows a thing or two about the music scene. I am truly honoured to be joined on today’s episode by an institution of British music culture, Trevor Nelson. Trevor’s parents are both from St Lucia and though he grew up in the London, he has travelled there throughout his life, and has a home there where he spends a lot of time. Not only does he help bring his favourite island to life, we also get to hear all about his illustrious life and career along the way. So let's get ready to set sail for paradise. Here’s Trevor Nelson’s St Lucia. Destination Recap Reduit BeachThe Landings Resort & SpaJade Mountain ResortCap EstateCabot Golf CourseThe Coal Pot Restaurant, Castries The Pink Plantation House, Castries Rodney BayPigeon Island Marigot Bay Sulphur Springs For more information about St Lucia visit StLucia.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susannah Constantine first burst onto our TV screens in the late 90s, alongside her partner-in-style, Trinny Woodall. Together, they revolutionised the way women approach fashion with their ground-breaking show 'What Not to Wear’, as the iconic duo Trinny & Susannah. The series not only garnered international acclaim but also became a cultural phenomenon, empowering women to embrace their bodies and dress with confidence, taking them all over the world from The Oprah Winfrey Show to the Oscars red carpet. This, we discuss, was just one chapter in Susannah’s fascinating life. In her 20s she was in a long-term relationship with Viscount David Linley, the son of Princess Margaret, and we chat today about her travels with Princess Margaret and how she viewed her very much as a mother figure in her life. Susannah is also a bestselling author, and a very successful podcaster - her podcast, My Wardrobe Malfunction, has had 9 seasons, and the most incredible guest lineup from Elizabeth Hurley to Nile Rodgers.Travel quite clearly means a lot to Susannah and she evokes the destinations in her travel diaries today, from Cornwall to Canada, Pakistan to Antarctica, so vividly, and emotively.Destination Recap:Holly - Four Seasons Ritz Lisbon, PortugalSusannah - AntarcticaGassin, France St Tropez, France Olhão, Portugal MustiqueVancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaClinton, British Columbia, CanadaPakistanHelford Passage, Cornwall Cairngorms, Scotland Soverato, Calabria, Italy Nairobi, KenyaAntarctica Susannah was on a Viking cruise to Antarctica, and Viking provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes across all seven continents and destination-focused expeditions in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. And you can find Susannah’ podcast my wardrobe malfunction wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first ten seasons to catch up on, that's over 110 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Rosenthal first gained international recognition by creating the iconic TV sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which won 16 Emmys and as we discuss on the episode today, 30 years later is still a mainstay on both US and UK TV. A self-described foodie, he has always been an ardent supporter of restaurants and food culture and his favourite saying is that “food is the great human connector”. Now he is living out his dream, travelling the world and exploring different cultures one bite at a time on his hit Netflix show, “Somebody Feed Phil” which is going into its 7th season, this time featuring Orlando, Scotland, Kyoto, Dubai, Washington D.C. and more. More than anything in this episode Phil is just such an advocate for travel for the positive power that travelling can have in broadening our perspectives on life, and he transports us today from Florence to Florida, Paris to Taipei and much more.Destination Recap:Holly --Vila Vita Parc, Algarve, PortugalQuinta da Comporta, Comporta, PortugalLisbon, PortugalPhil --New York, USACape Cod, Massachusetts, USAAtlanta, Georgia, USADisneyworld, Florida, USAOrlando, Florida, USAFlorence, ItalyKyoto, JapanParis, France Italy TaipeiShanghaiAustraliaVenice, Italy You can watch the new season of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix now. He also has published a children’s book that he co-created with his daughter Lily, called JUST TRY IT.With thanks to my sponsors today - Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are joined by a name synonymous with adventure, exploration, and a deep passion for the great outdoors. Julia Bradbury's love affair with nature began at a young age, nurtured by family hikes and camping trips in the rugged landscapes of the Peak District.She started her career as a show business reporter for breakfast TV in Los Angeles, becoming a household name as the presenter of BBC’s Countryfile alongside co-host Matt Baker - her boundless enthusiasm for the countryside endeared her to audiences across the UK. She is perhaps best known for turning her lifelong passion for walking into prime-time TV, with shows including Britain’s Best Walks, Cornwall and Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury and Wainwright’s Walks in the Lake District. But Julia's thirst for adventure extends far beyond the borders of Britain, and over the years, she’s embarked on countless adventures to some of the world's most remote and awe-inspiring destinations. Her travel diaries today take us from Greece to South Africa, Iceland to Costa Rica. I also really enjoyed talking to Julia about health and wellbeing, she has a huge wealth of knowledge that she accumulated while writing her Sunday Times Bestseller Walk Yourself Happy, and also because of the lifestyle shift she herself adopted after being diagnosed with breast cancer for which she underwent a mastectomy in 2021. I think that you’ll find this an inspiring, energising and wanderlust-inducing conversation. Destination Recap:Agia Marina, Athens, GreeceChios, Greece Skiathos, Greece Skopelos, Greece South AfricaPeak District, England - Stanage Edge, Buxton, Mam TorLandmannalaugar trail, Iceland Costa Rica Lake District, EnglandSouth America Walk Yourself Happy is available from all good bookshops and online, and you can book her Lake District retreat, which is called Walk Yourself Happy Wellbeing Retreat on theOutdoorGuide.co.uk here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're joined by one of the most recognisable faces of British TV, the delightful Alex Jones. Alex has been the co-presenter of The One Show, since 2010, a daily magazine show here in the UK which is broadcast every week night on BBC 1. It’s a British institution that's become a staple in many households.Hailing from Wales, Alex grew up bilingual, fluent in both English and Welsh. She tells us today about her first experience of TV, taking part as a contestant in a reality show in Magaluf - and how that led to none other than Davina McCall invigilating her final university exams. She shares her journey to the One Show sofa, which included hosting a travel show. And you could say that sparked a love of travel in her. She’s travelled all around the world with her husband and 3 children, and Alex takes us today on a journey from rural Wales, to coastal France, the rolling countryside of Italy to the ranches of Arizona. Destination Recap:Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy MallorcaPembrokeshire, Wales, UKSolva, Wales, UKNewport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UKSorrento, Italy Capri, Italy Magaluf, Spain Arizona, USAOgmore, Wales, UKBerlin, Germany Gothenburg, Sweden Pembrokeshire, WalesIle de Re, FranceLe Marche, Italy BelgiumSonnwies, The Dolomites, Italy (Holly)JapanWith thanks to my sponsors today - Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode has a particular focus on family travel, and I’m joined today by Jessica Gee, the matriarch of one of the most well known travelling families in the world, The Bucket List Family, who I’m sure many of you follow on Youtube and social media. The Bucket List Family’s story began back in 2015 when Jess and her husband Garrett decided to sell everything and leave home with their two children, for a journey around the world together. Eight years and another son later, they've visited more than 90 countries, have grown a following of 1.5 million YouTube subscribers and 3 million Instagram followers, and continue to find ways--big and small--to add to their lifelong travel bucket list.As a family of five, they’ve swum with whales in Tonga, slept in castles in Ireland, lived on a houseboat in Amsterdam and eaten breakfast with giraffes in Kenya. Jess shares how having been raised “a traditional all-American girl” whose family favoured trips to Disneyworld over international travel, she never imagined she would end up seeing so much of the world. Now she’s partnered with National Geographic on her debut book, which provides all the know-how to fulfil your own family’s bucket list—including how-tos for picking a destination, packing, budgeting, and even surviving a 12-hour plane ride. And it’s these kind of practical questions as well as her Jess’s travel chapters, that now as a parent myself, I’m so excited to uncover today. I’ve followed Jess and the family for years now, with a mixture of admiration and envy, and it’s so interesting to hear about life on the road with three little ones. Destination RecapTongaSwallow’s Cave, TongaRwanda Rwanda Genocide Memorial Building, RwandaSoneva Fushi, MaldivesSoneva Jani, Maldives Miavana, Madagascar Dominica Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa, Dominica New Zealand AntiguaBelize Alaska, USATordrillo Mountain Lodge, Alaska, USAAnchorage, Alaska, USAHomer, Alaska, USABorneo AntarcticaThe ArcticSouth GeorgiaThe Falkland Islands Hawaii, USAKona, Hawaii, USAMaui, Hawaii, USAHonolulu, Hawaii, USAKauai, Hawaii, USA Tahiti, French Polynesia Rangiroa, French Polynesia Jess’s new book, National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World with Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime is out now and available wherever books are sold. You can follow Jess and her family’s travels on Instagram @thebucketlistfamily With thanks to my sponsors today - Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.Lindex - Fom their UV 50+ protection swimwear to the cutest hats and tees, Lindex is a one stop shop for chic kid's clothing.Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels - For a tropical family holiday unlike any other with endless opportunities for fun and adventure, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels are the place to stay. Book your next getaway here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 11! Kicking us off in style, we’re joined by a dazzling duo who are set to waltz their way into your hearts, stars of Strictly Come Dancing, and heading into a second season of their much loved travel show Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures, it’s Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice. I spoke to Anton and Gio in London a couple of weeks ago, at a dance studio which was like something out of Fame - sprawling rooms filled with people singing and whooping and music blaring from every corner, so if you hear the odd vocal warmup or some echoey bits in the background, that’s why. I’ve watched Strictly since Season 1 and Anton has been a part of the show since the very beginning, a seasoned dance floor veteran, first as a contestant and now as a judge. And then Giovanni entered with a bang back in 2015, reaching the final 3 times, and then winning with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.With Anton being half Spanish, half Hungarian and Giovanni growing up in Sicily, travel has played an important part of both their lives, and I hope you really have a laugh with us on this one.Destination Recap:Holly:COMO Alpina Dolomites Anton & Gio’s Destination Recap:Sciacca, Sicily, ItalyTaormina, Sicily, ItalyPalermo, Sicily, Italy HungaryGalicia, SpainBilbaoSan Sebastian, SpainBenidorm, SpainBologna, Italy ThailandMaldives Pacific Highway 101, California, USACarmel, California, USASeville, Spain Ronda, SpainMadrid, SpainDoncaster, England, UKBangkok, Thailand Portofino, Italy Buenos Aires, Argentina, South AmericaNew York, USAEpisode 1 of Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Mon 18th March at 9pm.With thanks to my sponsors today - Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then remember there’s the first ten seasons to catch up on, that's over 110 + episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.comSee you next Tuesday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are embarking on a sun-soaked journey to the Sunshine State - Fantastic Florida. From the magical world of theme parks in Orlando to the laid-back vibes of the Florida Keys, we’ll be chatting about some of the State’s best known spots as well as uncovering its hidden gems that may not yet be on your radar. For example, did you know that Florida is a foodie’s paradise? My first guest today knows a bit about that. Jimmy Doherty is a TV presenter and one of the UK’s best known farmers. His journey started over 20 years ago when he took on a leasehold of a 100-acre farm which was followed in a BBC series called Jimmy’s Farm. You’ll have seen him on loads of shows including Escape to the Wild, Food Unwrapped, as well as co-hosting Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast with his friend, Jamie Oliver. Jimmy recently returned from a three week shoot travelling all around Florida for his new ITV show, Jimmy’s Taste of Florida, and I can’t wait for you to hear his Floridian travel diaries. Then, we’ll be joined by Florida resident and Florida travel expert and writer, Simon Veness, who’ll be sharing all his hidden gems, travel tips, and recommendations for your next trip to Florida.Destination Recap: Jimmy DohertyUniversal Studios, OrlandoUnion Public House, Pensacola Dat Cajun Place, Panama City Beach Third Wave, New Smyrna Beach The CURRENT Hotel, TampaWaterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, Anna Maria Island, Gulf CoastThe Florida Aquarium, TampaLittle Havana, Miami The Ball and Chain Restaurant, Little Havana, Miami Columbia Restaurant, TampaBusch Gardens, Tampa BaySand Bar, Anna Maria Island The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, BradentonPeebles BBQ, Polk County, Central FloridaWestgate River Ranch, Lake Wales, Central FloridaEverglades National Park, Miami Simon VenessCapa, Four Seasons, OrlandoGulf CoastOverseas Highway, Florida Keys Casa Morada, Isla MoradaKey LargoFlagler BeachSt AugustineEvermore Orlando Resort, Orlando Resort Collection, IslamoradaSt Regis, Longboat Key Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Indian River Lagoon, Atlantic Coast Manatee swimming, Crystal River, Gulf Coast Deep Sea Fishing, Florida KeysFlorida PanhandleAmelia Island, Nassau County Gulfport, St Petersburg Don’t miss Jimmy’s Taste of Florida on ITV. For more Florida travel inpso, head to Instagram @hollyrubenstein and visitflorida.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Michael Palin - where do you start! He’s a legendary comedian, part of pop culture history as one of Monty Python. He’s a BAFTA-winning actor, a best-selling author, and one of our most loved travel documentarians and travel writers. His journeys across the world, beginning with Around the World in 80 Days, followed by Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara, Himalaya, Brazil and more, were a key part of how many of us discovered the world growing up, through his eyes, and through his warmth and curiosity with whoever he encountered along the way. From Saharan Africa and the Amazon, to western Scotland and North Korea, it was such an honour to hear the travel diaries of Sir Michael Palin. I hope you enjoy them.Destination recap:Sheffield, EnglandNorfolk, EnglandSolden, Austria Venice, ItalyBarbadosMoroccoMauritaniaChinguetti, MaliPersian gulf to Indian Ocean dhow boat tripWest coast of Scotland including GlencoeAberfeldy, ScotlandNew York, USAIstanbul, TurkeyKolkata, India Pongo de Mainique, PeruNorth KoreaAlgiersVietnamGulag camps, Kolyma, RussiaMongolia and the 'StansAltai MountainsWalking in the Dolomites, ItalyWith thanks to #mindbodysoul at worlddutyfree.com @worlddutyfreeuk for their support of today's episode.  Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might know today’s guest as the formidable judge on "MasterChef: The Professionals,”; or maybe you've followed her globetrotting escapades on the BBC’s "Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby”. Perhaps you’ve even been lucky enough to eat in her London restaurant, Mere. She’s one of the best-known and highly renowned female chefs in the UK, it is of course, Monica Galetti. This season has been such a treat because I’ve managed to interview so many names who I dreamed of talking to when I started the podcast, and Monica was one of those, for so many reasons. I was desperate to ask her about what her childhood was like growing up on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. And then what life was like when she moved as a child to New Zealand, where suddenly it’s cold and it’s another language that she didn’t speak. I was excited to ask her where her love of food began and how that led her to London to work alongside Michel Roux Jr - a former guest on the podcast of course - at his legendary Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gavroche. The intense kitchen there became the crucible where Monica honed her skills, eventually rising to become the restaurant's first female sous chef. Her experience there would eventually serve as the foundation to the opening of Mere, her restaurant in Fitzrovia, London. After a few technical issues, I was so pleased Monica was able to squeeze this interview into her busy schedule. She’d just got off a plane, and got home, so this was recorded remotely last week. So from Samoa to Sri Lanka, Ireland to Italy and much more, let’s get started. Destination Recap:SamoaNew ZealandVanuatu Sri LankaItalyAshford Castle, Ireland Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, ItalyThe Brando, French Polynesia Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri LankaJOALI, MaldivesCroatiaJ Sheekey Restaurant, LondonSabor Restaurant, LondonScotlandJapanA big thank you to Monica Galetti, do check out her restaurant Mere for a taste of what we’ve been talking about today. And thank you to the magnificent JOALI and JOALI BEING resort in the Maldives, one of Monica’s Amazing Hotels, who helped to make the interview happen. This episode was recorded at Cliveden House.And so that is a wrap for Season 10. Thank you again for tuning in. I hope you are all gearing up for a lovely festive. I put together a little travel diaries Christmas gift guide on my Instagram @hollyrubenstein so do check that out. I will back next week with a bonus episode from the archives, and I’ll be back with a whole new season in the Spring. So who would like to hear from? Who are your dream guests? You know I always try to make it happen if you ask, so remember you can get in touch with me on Instagram, I’m also on threads, TikTok - maybe my new years resolution will be to use those a bit more, but certainly i’m always happy to chat on Instagram, and remember all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes, and on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Lots of love everyone, Happy holidays, and i’ll speak to you soon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Morgan is a TV presenter, Conde Nast Traveller columnist and disability advocate. When she was 18, on the night she received her A level results, Sophie crashed her car, and was left instantly paralysed from the chest down. Everything she had dreamed for her life was instantly forgotten and her journey to rediscover herself and build a different life began. “I want to go to some extraordinary places, meet some extraordinary people and do some extraordinary things", she wrote from her hospital bed the day she was discharged. But as a recently injured paraplegic woman, she would go on to face barriers as complex and nuanced as her impairment itself. In her words: “When it comes to travel, total satisfaction can be hard – if not impossible – for disabled people to find.” Sophie first appeared in BBC Two’s show Beyond Boundaries which followed 11 disabled people on a 220-mile trek across Nicaragua, alongside another previous podcast guest, Amar Latif. After that, her career on TV grew, and she became one of the first female wheelchair users globally to host on TV, playing a part in transforming the representation of disability on screen, as the lead presenter on Channel 4's broadcast of the Summer Paralympics, fronting her own prime-time travel series, documentaries as well as being a regular panelist for ITV's Loose Women. She’s currently spearheading the global disability rights campaign Rights On Flights which has taken her to the White House to meet the President, and we talk a lot on today’s episode about accessible travel and ableism - it’s an issue that has been hugely overlooked in the travel sphere for too long, and hearing Sophie’s experiences as a wheelchair user, on planes in particular, but within travel more broadly, really opened my eyes to the significant change that needs to take place to make travel accessible for everyone. Having said that, Sophie has been travelling literally non-stop for the last year, I mention it at the start of the episode all the places and adventures that she’s been on recently, so not only will today’s episode open your eyes to things you may not have thought of before - it will also fuel your wanderlust for your own future adventures. Destination Recap:The Whitehouse, Washington DC, USAFrench AlpsBiking trip across the USAWyoming, USAIdaho, USACotignac, FranceScotlandCaliforniaXimuwu, Greater Kruger, South Africa Seville, SpainNicaraguaAntarcticYou can read Sophie’s Conde Nast Traveller column 'Beyond Barriers’ in magazines and online now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're diving into the awe-inspiring world of high-altitude adventure. Our subject is a man whose name is synonymous with daring expeditions and summit triumphs, the legendary climber and adventurer, Kenton Cool.With 17 successful ascents of the mighty Mount Everest to his name, along with many other mountain peaks around the globe, including the ‘seven summits’ – the highest mountains on each of the seven traditional continents, Kenton is not just 'cool' by name, but by nature.You’ll have heard him mentioned on previous podcast episodes - with Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Ben Fogle - Kenton has accompanied them on some of their most challenging ascents. Ben Fogle, Summited Everest with Kenton, and he led Sir Ranulph Fiennes up the North Face of the Eiger and to the summit of Mount Everest, too.Kenton's adventure-filled life began in the UK, but he quickly found his heart in the Himalayas. He brings to life some of his most incredible adventures, and the valuable lessons he learnt along the way. Destination Recap:AlaskaHubbard Glacier, AlaskaSkagway, AlaskaWest Wales, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire The Presili Hills, Pembrokeshire PakistanMt EverestNepalPeshawar, Pakistan BhutanColorado, USACape Town, South Africa European Alps in Summer Megeve, Switzerland South Africa Antarctic Peninsula North side of Everest Darjeeling, India Tibetan Plateau You can find out more about their performance initiatives here: www.incoolcompany.comThanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to this bonus Destination Special of The Travel Diaries. Yes, I am back for a second time this week, as we continue to celebrate California and all it has to offer, today bringing to life one of my personal favourite spots, Greater Palm Springs. I was there in 2019 as part of a much bigger US road trip, which took me through all of California, and it’s one of the places I think about most when I’m daydreaming about far off lands. It’s nestled in the heart of California's Coachella Valley, a couple of hours drive from LA, and it’s a desert oasis that's been capturing the hearts of travellers for generations. It’s where 1950s celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley spent their weekends, played golf at championship courses, and wined and dined the desert night away. With that Rat Pack spirit still lingering in the air, it has a unique allure that draws you in from the moment you arrive. Picture an elegant city framed by the towering San Jacinto Mountains and lined with impossibly tall swaying palm trees. A nexus of natural beauty, wellness, and culture, a living canvas of perfectly preserved mid-century modern architecture, offering such an intoxicating blend of nostalgia and sophistication.I’m joined today by Steven Biller, he’s a Palm Springs legend, having edited Palm Springs Life Magazine for over 20 years, and we uncover his Palm Springs travel diaries, his all time favourites, his hidden gems, and top recommendations as someone who knows it so well. From its food and art scenes to its wild outdoors and hiking trails, there is so much to experience in Greater Palm Springs. I really hope you enjoy getting a flavour of it now. Destination Recap: Palm Springs aerial tramwayCoachella ValleyThe Indian CanyonsAgua Caliente Cultural PlazaPalm Canyon TrailKorakia Pensione L’Horizon Hotel Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree rock climbing school Barker Dam trail, Joshua Tree National ParkRyan Mountain, Joshua Tree National ParkJohannes restaurant Sol y Sombra restaurant, Paloma Resort Cabot’s Pueblo MuseumBox Canyon, MeccaMojave DesertKelso Dunes Well, I hope that has given you a flavour of what a fantastic destination Greater Palm Springs is. Thank you to Stephen Biller for joining me. You can find out more about Palm Springs at palmspringslife.com , in your favourite travel guides and magazines, and of course always on the tourist board website too, in this case it is visitgreaterpalmsprings.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are heading to a sun-soaked slice of heaven. The place I chose as my all time favourite destination when I answered my own travel diaries here on the podcast. The Golden State. It is of course, California. I have been so excited to work on this episode for you, bringing to life a destination so close to my heart - so close in fact, that I even got married on one of its many golden sand beaches.The reason I love California so much is that it’s a paradise of possibilities, a promise of endless adventure, that truly caters to every traveller. From the dramatic coastlines of Big Sur, where the waves dance with the rugged cliffs, to the sun-kissed beaches of Santa Monica and the iconic Santa Cruz boardwalk, this state offers a buffet of coastal delights.Speaking of buffets, don't even get me started on the food. California is a culinary playground where flavours from around the world collide. From food truck gems in Los Angeles to Michelin-starred eateries in San Francisco, your taste buds will embark on a journey of their own. Not forgetting that it’s home to some of the most famous and beautiful wine country in the world. And how about the great outdoors? California is a nature lover's dream come true. Yosemite National Park, with its colossal granite cliffs and lush forests, will make you feel like you've stepped into a postcard. There’s the historic redwood forests of Northern California. And for the adrenaline junkies, Lake Tahoe offers year-round thrills, from skiing in the winter to kayaking in the summer.Whether you're chasing dreams in LA, hiking in the Sierra Nevada, or sipping on cabernet in wine country, California is a place where every moment feels like a movie scene, and you're the star.Speaking of stars, today we are joined by a star-studded lineup of some of my favourite guests across the last 10 seasons, who have chosen California as part of their travel diaries. They’ll be taking us on the ultimate California road trip - a trip of a lifetime you can do in two or three weeks, that everyone should be adding to their travel bucket list. Destination Recap:Holly RubensteinCalifornia Road Trip - Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, MontecitoPoppy Delevingne - Chateau Marmont Hotel, Hollywood, LASir Trevor McDonald - Shutters on the Beach Hotel, Santa MonicaEd Gamble - Madonna Inn, San Luis ObispoJon Ronson - Pacific Highway Route 1, Hearst Castle, Los AngelesBrian Chesky - Walt Disney Museum, San FranciscoMichel Roux Jr - Pacific Highway Drive, Wine Region, San Francisco, Spago Restaurant, Chez Panisse, BerkeleyGregory Porter - Yosemite National Park Chef Nancy Silverton Los AngelesAnajack Thai, Sherman OaksKato, Los AngelesDowntown Los AngelesBaroo, Los AngelesOjaiOjai Valley Inn, OjaiSolvangThe Watts Towers, Los AngelesOlvera Street, Los AngelesYosemite National ParkPalm Springs San FranciscoBerkeleySan Juan CapistranoChez Panisse, Berkeley San Ysidro Ranch, Santa BarbaraFerry Plaza, San Francisco Embarcadero Buvette, San Francisco Blue Bottle, San Francisco Farmer’s Market, San Francisco Boonville Hotel & Restaurant, Mendocino CountyTo discover more about California head to visitcalifornia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up around farms and wildlife, TV presenter Kate Humble has always had a fascination for nature. After leaving school, she travelled solo to Africa; working her way from Cape Town to Cairo. On her return to the UK she began working for TV production companies, as a runner, then researcher on ‘The Holiday Programme’. It was on her second day in the Holiday office when she was asked by the programme’s editor if she had ever presented before. "No," she said "and nor do I want to." Kate has been presenting programmes for over 20 years ever since, as well as writing articles and books, many with a focus around travel. In fact, she has become a beloved mainstay of British television, having presented some of our most iconic shows, including Springwatch & Autumnwatch, Countryfile, Lambing Live, and many, many more. We spoke at The Chelsea Townhouse, a new opening by Iconic Luxury Hotels, the brand behind some of Britain’s most legendary properties, like Chewton Glen and Cliveden. Tucked behind one of London's most fancy shopping districts, Sloane Street, we sat in one of its homely suites, overlooking it’s lovely garden and towering treetops - an unusual find in the heart of London.Kate is what I would consider a true traveller. She is someone who sets off with pure wanderlust, with a map and hiking boots, and gets stuck in wherever she is heading. She tells us about an extraordinary five weeks spent with a tribe who live north of Timbuktu in the Sahara Desert trading salt; tracking clouded leopards in Borneo and hiking through Afghanistan. And closer to home about life in the Welsh Wye Valley, and her beloved escape in rural France. Destination Recap:Wye Valley, UKCorfuGuatemalaMexicoSouth AfricaCameroonTimbuktu, Mali Saharan Desert, MaliLimousin National Park, France BorneoTsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan Siberia, RussiaWalking across JapanGlyndŵr's Way, WalesPolandRomaniaAlbania Kate has a new book out, called Where the Hearth Is: Stories of Home, which interestingly is all about home, questioning the notion of home, is it a tangible place or a state of mind? And considers the views of others living uniquely, extraordinarily and happily. It’s a fascinating and comforting read, which I thoroughly recommend - a great Christmas present. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today knows his way around both the kitchen and the world. He’s a culinary maestro with a passport full of flavours and a heart full of stories. It’s the wonderful, Gino D’acampo. Born in Naples, in Southern Italy, Gino inherited his grandfather’s love and passion for cooking. After studying at catering college, at just 18 years old Gino moved to London. Soon after he was spotted by a TV producer and began to grace our TV screens on shows like Ready Steady Cook, This Morning and his own shows like Gino’s Italian Escape. He joined his pals Gordon Ramsay and former podcast guest Fred Sirieix on their much-loved Ultimate Road Trip series and is the host of Family Fortunes. He has a restaurant empire, several best-selling cookbooks and he also wrote his first children’s cookbook ‘Wiskella.’Gino’s Travel Diaries are like a beautifully crafted recipe - filled with zest, sprinkled with laughter, and infused with the warm embrace of the places he's explored. From the sun-drenched Amalfi coast to the island of Sardinia, the olive groves of Puglia to the caves of Matera, Gino’s episode today is a love letter to his country of Italy, and was so much fun to record, so many laughs, we just had a really great time. I know you’re going to love it. So fasten your seatbelts, and let’s get started.Destination Recap:Sardinia, ItalyAritzo, Sardinia, Italy (Blue Zone)Palinuro, Calabria, ItalyTorre del Greco, Naples, Italy Guildford, Surrey, EnglandCosta Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy Positano, ItalyTurkeyHawaii, USAYou can watch Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South on Sundays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.With thanks to today's sponsors:Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.Sunweb - Use my promo code TRAVEL50 for £50 off your booking and your ski pass included. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is the queen of British Soul, a West End superstar, and an Olivier-award winner - Beverley Knight. If you've ever swayed to the rhythms of Beverley’s songs like "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" or "Come as You Are," you know that Beverley's voice has the power to transport you to another dimension. But what about the destinations that have transported her? She's also a seasoned traveler with a passport filled to the brim with stamps from around the world and today, she's going to take us on a journey through her most meaningful travel experiences, from New York to Brazil, Jamaica to The Bahamas, with such passion, and clear love of travel - she's got stories that will make your wanderlust soar!So get ready to join us as we explore the world through the eyes and the incredible voice of the one and only Beverley Knight.Destination Recap: Datça Peninsula, Turkey Istanbul, Turkey New York City, USATea and Sympathy, New York City, USASylvia’s, Harlem, New York City, USASalvador, Bahia, Brazil JamaicaLondonHarbour Island, BahamasChicago, USAThe Far East - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, China Beverley’s album, The Fifth Chapter, is out now.Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're embarking on a special adventure – a voyage through the enchanting world of train travel. Our guest today is a true connoisseur of locomotion, travel writer Monisha Rajesh. In 2010, Monisha spent four months travelling around India by rail recounted in her debut book, Around India in 80 Trains. After India, Monisha took on the world, over seven months and 45,000-miles, on an adventure through the global rail networks, which later became her next book, the brilliant Around the World in 80 Trains.Today, we’ll hear Monisha’s train travel diaries, from her earliest train travel memory being carried across the train tracks in Switzerland by her parents, to falling in love with train travel on a journey from Mumbai to Goa and her all time favourite journeys, to suit all budgets. From journeys that last just a few hours to those that last several days, Monisha brings to the life the unique perspective that travelling on a train can give us as travellers, the romance, the camaraderie, the excitement, unparalleled vistas, and a deep connection to the world around us. She evokes it so beautifully in our episode today. I think this is one you’re going to love.So, all aboard, and let’s get started, with Monisha.Destination Recap:SwitzerlandIndiaMandovi Express, from Mumbai to Goa, IndiaUS AmtrakDelhi, IndiaCannes to Ventimille Train, France to Italian border Canadian railway Vancouver to TorontoEuropean Sleeper Brussels, Belgium to Berlin, GermanyRome to Palermo, Italy train Norway midnight sun train Oslo to Trondheim and Trondheim to BodøSkeena Train, Jasper to Prince Rupert, CanadaTransmongolian RailwayThe Santa Claus Express from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Finland Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok, I’m also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s very special guest is not only a seasoned sailor but also a true legend of the high seas. She's the captain that keeps it all together on the hit TV series, "Below Deck: Mediterranean”. That's right, today we're setting sail with none other than Captain Sandy Yawn!Now, if you're a fan of the show, you already know that the show chronicles the lives of the crew members who work and reside aboard a super yacht during charter season and Captain Sandy brings more than just nautical expertise to the table. She's a force to be reckoned with, with a heart of gold and a personality that shines as bright as the sun over the Mediterranean. Today, we're going to delve deeper into her world, beyond the decks and the drama, to get to know more about Sandy. She has been on quite a voyage herself, a voyage of sobriety, a voyage of self discovery, and a new voyage lies ahead as just the day before we spoke, she proposed to her girlfriend, Leah.Destination Recap:Holly speaks about Porto Zante Villas & Spa on Zakynthos island, Greece Captain Sandy: The Florida Keys, Florida, USALittle Palm Island, The Florida Keys, Florida, USADisneyworld, Florida, USASuwannee River, Florida, USAStepping Stones, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USABarcelona, Spain Barceloneta Spanish and Mediterranean Tapas Restaurant and Bar, SpainSiesta Key, Florida, USASt Petersburg, Florida, USAThe Don CeSar, St Petersburg, Florida, USAThe BahamasAspen, Colorado, USADenver, Colorado, USAOuray, Colorado, USAThunderball Cave, Staniel Cay, The Exumas, BahamasTreasure Cay, The Abacos, BahamasLong Island, BahamasCote D’Azur, FranceAlabama Jack’s, Key Largo, FloridaMiami, FloridaPortofino, Italy Alaska, USAWatch Captain Sandy on the brand-new season of Below Deck Mediterranean on Hayu, now. With thanks to my sponsors today …Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.Sunweb - Use my promo code TRAVEL50 for £50 off your booking and your ski pass included. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re kicking off Season 10 by diving into the world of one of the most iconic figures in the music industry, a Grammy-winning artist whose distinctive voice and reggae beats have seen him top the charts over the past 30 years. That's right, we’re joined today, Shaggy. “Oh Carolina”, Shaggy’s debut single, was his big breakthrough into the music industry, all the way back in 1993. It became a chart-topping hit around the world and subsequent mega-hits like “Boombastic”, "It Wasn't Me” and “Angel” all further propelled him to global superstardom.From Kingston, Jamaica where he spent his childhood and lives now, to the global stage, today we’re going to be getting to know the man behind the hits and the destinations in his life that have played a part along the way, from Japan to Italy, New York to North Carolina.Destination Recap:New York City, USAJamaicaKingston, JamaicaJapanNorth Carolina, USAIraqItalySardinia, ItalyPort Antonio, JamaicaZimbabweShaggy’s In The Mood EP is out nowThanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok, I’m also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s season finale we're joined by a national treasure, and a name synonymous with travel, Dame Joanna Lumley. Joanna's appetite for adventure was deeply engrained from childhood. She was born in Kashmir in the last days of British India, the daughter of an army officer who served with the Gurkhas. Throughout her childhood her parents lived in Asia, moving to Hong Kong and Malaysia, while she spent term times at school in England.From her early days as a fashion model, gracing the covers of magazines and strutting down runway, Joanna Lumley was destined for greatness. But it was her iconic role as Patsy in the hit TV series "Absolutely Fabulous" that truly catapulted her into the hearts of millions. I love Wikipedia’s description of Patsy - “an alcoholic, a chain smoker, and a frequent recreational drug user. She carries drugs with her at all times, storing joints in her trademark beehive."After surviving solo on a desert island, on the groundbreaking show Girl Friday, Joanna soon became as synonymous with travel as she was with Ab Fab, setting off on epic journeys that would make even the most seasoned globetrotter green with envy, from Japan and India to the Caribbean and the Silk Route. What makes her so remarkable is not just her fearless spirit but her genuine love for the people she meets along the way. She champions causes close to her heart, advocating for the rights of the Gurkhas, supporting endless charities, and shedding light on the important issues affecting our world.So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready as we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and awe-inspiring travels of Joanna Lumley, from Malaysia to Uzbekistan, Italy to Indonesia.Destination Recap:Kashmir, India Hong KongMalaysiaBatu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia MadagascarDelhi, IndiaUzbekistan Tash Rabat, Kyrgzystan Sienna, ItalyBanda Islands, IndonesiaSudanRomaniaJoanna Lumley’s Spice Trail Adventure starts on 5th July at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re uncovering another favourite episode from The Travel Diaries archive, now that we have over 100 episodes to pick from, as we build up to our big season finale with Joanna Lumley next week. It was so hard to choose, but when I reflected on the episodes that sparked the most wanderlust in me, from the most seasoned travellers, I thought it had to be Ben Fogle. Ben’s episode was recorded back in the Covid days, during season three, when no one really knew what was going on with the future of travel, and his tales of epic physical feats, wilderness living , going to the most remote parts of the planet, really inspired me at the time.Ben is an award-winning broadcaster and one of the UK’s most prolific adventurers. He has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco, run the Marathon Des Sables (a 6 day ultra marathon across the Sahara Desert), raced across the Antarctica to the South Pole and most recently climbed Mount Everest. He’s written nine best-selling books - many about travel - and has the enviable title of the United Nations Patron of the Wilderness. And speaking of the Wilderness, he has travelled to every corner of the globe while filming his long-running hit TV series, New Lives in the Wild, a notion that feels particularly relevant right now during lockdown. Get ready to be transported to Guatemala, the top of Mt Everest, Ethiopia, the Canadian Wilderness and…Ayia Napa.Destination Recap:Taransay, Outer Hebrides, ScotlandLake Chemong, Ontario, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaAlgonquin Park, Ontario, CanadaLatin America Quito, EcuadorAntigua, GuatemalaBolivia Pitcairn Island, South PacificPleistocene Park, SiberiaThe Atlantic OceanMt Everest, Nepal Cornwall, EnglandEthiopiaLalibela, EthiopiaAyia Napa, Mallorca, SpainHaitiThe Great Wall of China, ChinaThe North PoleThe South PoleThank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps. Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're revisiting one of the podcast's favourite episodes today, from back in Season 3, and we're joined by one of travel’s most familiar faces. Known for his TV series tracing the Equator, the Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn, following the world’s sacred rivers and pilgrimages, travelling the length of the Americas, and deep diving into destinations like Burma, Russia and Colombia, visiting over 130 countries along the way. It is of course the adventurer, author and broadcaster, Simon Reeve. If you’ve watched Simon’s shows, you’ll know they’re not your typical travel programmes. He’s known for digging beneath the surface of a place, and telling the stories - both good and bad - that need to be told. What you may not know is that Simon is really very experienced when it comes to digging a little deeper as he began his career as an investigative journalist, and went on to become a NY Times best-selling author, all before he even appeared on our TV screens. Simon has undertaken numerous extraordinary journeys, but none of them are quite as extraordinary as the journey his own life has taken. I think you’ll be both amazed and inspired by it. Destination Recap: Studland Bay, Dorset, England Istanbul, Turkey Hagia Sophia Grand Turkey, Istanbul, TurkeyGabonMadagascarBangladesh Somaliland West Country, England JapanNew ZealandSenegalMali The ArcticThe AntarcticParaguay Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.I’m @hollyrubenstein on Instagram, and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan Hine is a survivalist and wilderness guide who has carved her path in the fiercely competitive world of adventure travel, producing some of the biggest adventure and survival shows on TV around the world. Her big break came working alongside Bear Grylls on his hit show Man vs Wild, and from there, she’s led talent and film crews in the world’s toughest environments for over 20 years. A seasoned adventurer, Megan also possesses an insatiable hunger for exploration. Armed with her unwavering spirit and an arsenal of survival skills, she’s led expeditions around the world, from the arid deserts of the Sahara to the icy tundras of the Arctic. Her remarkable ability to adapt to the harshest conditions and think on her feet has earned her the admiration of both novice adventurers and seasoned experts alike. Whether it's scaling treacherous cliffs, navigating dangerous waters, or braving bone-chilling temperatures, Megan continues to push boundaries.She is also a qualified resilience coach, and combines intimate knowledge of wilderness survival, a degree in psychology and a fascination with the psychology of survival to help clients overcome mental health struggles. Many of these techniques feature in her best-selling book 'Mind of a Survivor’, which we talk about today.So, fasten your seatbelts, and ready to embark on an unforgettable journey with us today, full of heart-stopping adventures, invaluable life lessons, and the transformative power of travel. From Panama to Tibet, New Zealand to Mongolia, let’s get started.Destination Recap:Pearl Islands, Panama The Maldives Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China?ScotlandIcelandNew ZealandSnowdonia, WalesNewborough Beach, WalesBlack Rock Sands, WalesMongoliaLlŷn Peninsula, WalesTibetAntarcticaAlaska, USAYou can follow Megan on her adventures on Instagram at @Megan_hine and read her book, Mind of a Survivor. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight episodes to catch up on, that's over ninety episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is a familiar face to millions all over the world as a BBC newsreader and foreign correspondent, with a career spanning three decades. He’s covered some of the biggest stories of our time from Hurricane Katrina, to 9/11; reported fro the front lines of conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and covered wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and most recently, Ukraine, reporting for BBC News from the roof of a hotel in the capital of Kyiv when the war broke out in February last year. He’s the host of Mastermind, and most recently swapped the BBC studios for sun-drenched Italian countryside, with his first travel show, Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip, a 15-part series, which follows Clive as he embarks on a captivating journey around the country, immersing himself in its culture, rich history and local cuisine from its heel to its top. We of course chat about this as well his hugely varied career which has taken him to over eighty countries in itself. Destination Recap:JamaicaItalyVerona, ItalyPuglia, ItalyMatera, ItalyTokyo, JapanHokaido, JapanUkraineWest Coast of USAEast Coast of USAHome Counties, EnglandCape Town, South AfricaVenice, ItalyWashington DC, USAAfghanistanSt Petersburg, RussiaSri LankaA huge thank you to Clive. What an interesting life he has led. Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip is available on BBC iPlayer.With thanks to today's sponsor, Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest will reignite your sense of adventure and reaffirm your love of nature. I’ve had over 100 guests now and I can safely say that this guest is up there in terms of the passion and love he shows for travel - the power of it, the importance of it and its symbiosis with nature and our planet.  Sam Branson is a very busy man indeed. He’s one of those people where the list of things that they do in their bio goes on for so long you question what you’ve done with your own life! Adventurer, Film maker, Singer/Songwriter, Charity Founder, Business Leader, Social Entrepreneur and much more. As an adventurer - his feats match some of the greatest names in the field. He’s spent 3 months crossing the arctic on a dog sled, he’s climbed epic peaks, he’s kayaked treacherous stretches of water, he’s set numerous world records, including - curiously - running the London Marathon attached to 33 other people. None of it was done without a wider cause though with the primary charitable focus - Big Change - which he also founded! He’s raised several million pounds to date. He’s also hugely passionate about our planet and many of the challenges he’s undertaken have been to raise awareness and create action around climate change. He speaks with such warmth about nature. This has transcended to his new venture - music. He’s just released his debut album - Under the Static - which is a love letter to mother nature under his musical name Waves Rush In. The perfect soundtrack to summer. Alongside all of this - which is making me exhausted just thinking about it - he’s found time to co-found and run a documentary production company alongside Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.Now - obviously - a lot of this opportunity has come from being born into the Branson family - being the son of Sir Richard Branson - and we discuss this privileged upbringing in the episode and how he’s strived for his own self identity since. All of this makes it a really fascinating listen. I hope you enjoy it. Destination Recap:British Virgin Islands Necker Island, British Virgin IslandsMenorcaAnegada, British Virgin IslandsThe Willy T, Norman Island, British Virgin IslandsAustraliaByron Bay, AustraliaArctic expeditionBali, IndonesiaUluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaUbud, Bali, IndonesiaKomodo Island, IndonesiaSri LankaChamonix, FranceMont Blanc, FranceMentawai Islands, Sumatra, IndonesiaUnder the Static, Sam’s debut album which is released under his musical alter ego Waves Rush In, is out in June. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome our first ever Family Travel special. I had my first child back in October last year, and it’s been you the listeners who have reached out to me in such overwhelming numbers asking for a dedicated family travel episode because there isn’t a ton of advice out there for new parents travelling with a baby, where to go what to pack - it can be quite overwhelming. So here we are! Obviously, this episode might not appeal to everyone. So if you’re one of those regulars, please tune in next week, we’ll be back with a great celeb guest.So how’s this going to work? My current plan is to release a family focussed episode each season that loosely tracks my own experience as a mother. Today we’ll be chatting with a bit of a focus on travelling with a baby up to around 6 months. Next season will then probably focus on 6 months to the toddler phase and so on. It won’t follow the usual 7 chapters but focus on things like travel tips, the best recommendations and bucket list destinations for that specific age group. I’m delighted to be joined by two seasoned family travellers to guide me through this. Kate Leahy is an acclaimed travel journalist who spent ten years working in-house at The Sunday Times and now contributes to The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times, and much more. Prior to a career in journalism, Kate spent five years working as British Airways cabin crew, often observing the logistics of parents travelling with children. Now mum to two-year-old twins, she's putting everything she has learned along the way into making her own family travel memories.Joining her is Frankie Collinson, who is the co-founder of the family travel start-up Tiny Travelship which provides vetted recommendations across all price ranges for both family specific and family friendly spots across the globe. They’ve just launched a new booking website and their Instagram has inspired a lot of my own Family Travel Bucket List!Destination RecapGreeceMonastery Estate Retreat, Crete, GreeceCaserio del Mirador, Alicante, SpainAlmyra, CyprusDaios Cove, Crete, GreecePuglia, Italy Ikos ResortsMartinhal, Sagres, PortugalMartinhal, Lisbon, Portugal Marbella Club, SpainCretan Malia Park, Crete, GreeceCosta RicaCasa Pineta, Elba Island, ItalyAustraliaWith thanks to...Roarsome - Head to roarsome.com and use the code TRAVELDIARIES for 20% off all clothing, events and adventures in 2023.Forte Village, Sardinia - Forte Village is the perfect place for your holiday in Sardinia, a beautiful corner of paradise Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. All the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by Alex Polizzi, who you might know best as TV”s 'Hotel Inspector’. Alex has used her decades of experience working in hospitality to advise struggling hoteliers on how to turn their businesses around on the hit Channel 5 show. And on today’s episode we take a deep dive into what makes a great hotel, a great holiday and our ultimate pet peeves. Alex’s passion for travel and hospitality is something that runs in her blood. She’s part of one of travel’s most iconic family dynasties, the Forte family, Her grandfather was the legendary hotelier Lord Charles Forte, an Italian immigrant who opened a milk bar on London’s Regent Street in the 1930s and turned it into an empire of over 800 international hotels. Her uncle Rocco, established his own chain of luxury hotels, the Rocco Forte hotels. Her mother, is the hotel designer Olga Polizzi and founder of the Polizzi Collection (three hotels across the south of England), the third of which, The Star in Alfriston, she opened jointly with Alex in June 2021 to rave reviews. I spoke to Alex in one of her family’s most iconic hotels, Brown’s in London. Her travel diaries today take us from Cambodia to the Caribbean, from Portugal to Puglia, all across Italy and much more. Destination Recap:Browns’ Hotel, London, England, UKDona Filipa Hotel, Algarve, Portugal CambodiaHong KongHotel Endsleigh, Devon, England, UKVenice, ItalyBelmond Cipriani, Venice, ItalyProvidenciales, Turks + CaicosTorcello, Venice, ItalyMurano, Venice, ItalyThe Coral House, Providenciales, Turks + CaicosVilla Igiea, Palermo, Sicily, Italy Pompeii, Naples, ItalyIschia, Italy Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia, Italy Lecce, Puglia, ItalyOtranto, Puglia, Italy The Priory Hotel & Restaurant, Caerleon, WalesIndiaJapanWith thanks to today's sponsors:Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Masseria Torre Maizza, a Rocco Forte Hotel - Be inspired by Alex's travel diaries, and discover an oasis of luxury in the heart of the Apulian countryside, Masseria Torre Maizza.If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to episode 100 of The Travel Diaries podcast. I’m journalist Holly Rubenstein, and today I’m your cohost, as I’m joined today by my other half, my partner in life and travels Alex, who is going to be interviewing me about my travel diaries. That’s right, after nine seasons, and 99 episodes, and quite a few requests I thought it about time that I shared with you some of the many destinations that have shaped my life. I hope you get to know a little bit more about me.So from Miami to Montecito, Scotland to Switzerland, and many more, here are my travel diaries. Destination Recap:Miami, Florida, USAAventura Mall, Miami, Florida, USAVersailles, Little Havana, Miami, USAWynwood Walls, Miami, Florida, USALittle Havana, Miami, Florida USAIslamorada, Florida Keys, USACasa Morada, Florida Keys, USAKauai, Hawaii, USAMt Kilauea, Hawaii, USAFour Seasons Maui, Hawaii, USACalifornia - Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, MontecitoWaldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Maldives57 Nord, Scotland, UKSedona, Arizona, USAZion National Park, Utah, USANiagara, New York, USABig Sur, CaliforniaDenver, Colorado, USAThe Ramble Hotel, Denver, Colorado, USAFinger Lakes, New York, USAAscona, Lake Maggiore, SwitzerlandBeltane Ranch, Sonoma, California, USAArundel, West Sussex, EnglandPatagonia, Argentina / ChileForestis, Italian Dolomites Rosa Alpina, Italian Dolomites Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy Amanzoe, Port Heli, GreecePatina, MaldivesRitz Carlton MaldivesSix Senses Zighy Bay, OmanAirelles Chateau de la Messardiere, St Tropez, FranceSri LankaWith thanks to today’s sponsor, CV Villas. Book your 2023 summer holiday, now. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are joined by the self described blind guy who wants to show you the world, Amar Latif. Due to an incurable eye condition, Amar lost 95% of his sight by the age of 18. Through sheer determination, he has managed to turn a tale of loss, into one of truly inspirational achievement. Amar became known to millions through the groundbreaking BBC series Beyond Boundaries, which followed a group of disabled adventurers trekking 220 miles through Central America. The experience showed Amar that being blind didn't have to mean never seeing the world, but when he sought to take his adventures further afield he found himself facing rejection after rejection. Conventional travel companies refused to take him as an independent blind traveller, and so Amar set out to establish a company that would. Determined to travel the world, and to empower thousands of other blind travellers to do the same, Amar founded Traveleyes. Now a world-unique, award-winning tour operator, offering over 70 destinations a year, and providing an innovative way for blind and sighted travellers to explore the world together.Amar has since worked on numerous tv programmes including River Walks, which recently won a Royal Television Society Award for ‘Best Single Documentary’, Celebrity Masterchef and Travelling Blind, which saw Amar partnered up with comedian Sara Pascoe as they travelled through Turkey together, demonstrating the dynamics of travelling as a sighted and visually impaired duo.I loved chatting to Amar, his enthusiasm and passion for travel is completely contagious, and he’s one of my best travelled guests, having visited over 100 countries. He takes us from Morocco to Mecca, and from Cuba to Cape Town and much more.Destination Recap:Blackpool, EnglandMecca, Saudi ArabiaMedina, Saudi ArabiaCanadaLake Titicaca, PeruNicaraguaHavana, CubaCienfuegos, CubaTrinidad City, CubaSanta Clara, Cuba Varadero, CubaAlgamitas, Andalucia, SpainAtlas Mountains, MoroccoCape Town, South AfricaJapanThe Gambia Cornwall, England, UKMasai Mara, KenyaThanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight episodes to catch up on, that's over ninety episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.comThanks so much for listening and I’ll be back next week.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're joined by a titan of the travel industry. Divia Thani is the global editorial director of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, overseeing seven editions of the title across the globe, including here in the UK. If you're not familiar with Conde Nast Traveler, It's the ultimate guide to the world's most exciting destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and experiences. Divia is at the helm of it all and has been shaping the brand's voice and vision for several years now, having served as Editor in Chief of Condé Nast Traveller India for a decade.Born and raised in Mumbai with family based across the globe, Divia’s travel diaries today take us far and wide, across Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. From ultra luxury hotels, to affordable homestays, belly dancing in Egypt to a shamanic experience in Mexico, her inspiring recommendations are sure to spark your wanderlust. Stay tuned for a quick fire round at the end, where Divia answers some of the questions you sent me on Instagram and offers some brilliant travel advice. Destination Recap:Lagos, NigeriaMumbai, IndiaTaj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, IndiaOberoi Mumbai, IndiaLondon, EnglandBradford, Pennsylvania, USAJohannesburg, South AfricaOne & Only Palmilla, Cabo San Lucas, MexicoMayascrest, Himachal Pradesh, India Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, IndiaRaffles the OWO, London, EnglandMandarin Oriental, London, EnglandPeninsula London, EnglandVietnamThailandJapanArgentinaEgypt Alexandria, EgyptThanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight episodes to catch up on, that's over ninety episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s special guest is the singer-songwriter Katie Melua. Many of you will know Katie from her chart-topping hits like "Nine Million Bicycles" and "The Closest Thing to Crazy”. Over the last twenty years, her soulful voice has captivated audiences all around the world, selling over 11 million albums worldwide, making her one of the most successful British female artists of all time.Katie was born in Georgia, - a country found at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe - which was then part of the Soviet Union, and it’s a huge feature of her travel diaries today. If it's a place that's been on your travel radar, you’ll get some great tips for a future trip. Katie spent her early childhood living in Georgia before moving to the UK, when she was eight years old. Her passion for music led her to enrol at the famous BRIT school, alongside alumni like Adele and Amy Winehouse. She was discovered by songwriter and producer Mike Batt, and rocketed to stardom soon after.Her success has of course meant she has travelled much of the world several times over on tour, and she shares with us some of the most extraordinary destinations she has put on a show, including the deepest concert ever held, 303 meters below sea level in a Norwegian fjord.So sit back, relax, and join us on this journey as we explore the life and travels of Katie Melua.Destination Recap:Batumi, Georgia Moscow, RussiaTbilisi, Georgia Belfast, Northern Ireland East Prawle, Devon, EnglandMargate, Kent, England Deal, Kent, EnglandBroadstairs, Kent, England Mt Kazbegi, Georgia Rooms Hotel, KazbegiNorwayTresco, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, EnglandBrazilKatie Melua’s ninth studio album, Love + Money, is out now, and she heads out on a UK + EU tour in April and May. With thanks to today's sponsor...Jumeirah Beach Hotel - Visit jumeirah.com/JBHEscapes today, and book your Exceptional Escape to Dubai. Jumeirah Beach Hotels' Exceptional Jumeirah Escapes Offer gives up to 20% savings when you stay before 30 September 2023, with unlimited Wild Wadi Waterpark access, flexible cancellation and USD 200 credit when staying in an Ocean Club Room, Suite, or Beit Al Bahar Royal Villa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this bonus episode of The Travel Diaries podcast, where we are going to be talking about some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring national parks here in the UK. We’re joined by friend of the podcast, former guest on Season 3, Juliet Kinsman, who is the Sustainability Editor of Conde Nast Traveller magazine, the author of The Green Edit: Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller and an aficionado of the national parks of the UK. Today’s episode is brought to you in partnership with BMW and National Park UK’s Recharge in Nature Project, an initiative to support nature restoration, biodiversity, wellbeing as well as access - the project is enhancing the electric vehicle charging infrastructure around our national parks to make it that bit easier to use an electric car when exploring. Often they are so vast, so remote and so rural that if you’re driving an electric car you might be anxious about when you’d next able to charge it.  From the soaring mountains and serene lakes of the Lake District National Park to the rugged moorlands and rolling hills of the Cairngorms National Park and the wild horses of the New Forest, by uncovering Juliet’s national parks travel diaries we’ll not only take a closer look at what makes these parks so special, we'll also explore how we can ensure their protection for generations to come.So grab your your binoculars, your walking boots, and your sense of adventure, and let's get started as we delve into the National Parks of the UK! Destination Recap: Lake District National Park, EnglandSnowdonia National Park, WalesNew Forest National Park, EnglandThe Pig Hotel, Hampshire, EnglandLimewood, Hampshire, EnglandChewton Glen, Hampshire, EnglandCairngorms National Park, ScotlandSaorsa 1875 Hotel, ScotlandSouth Downs National Park, West SussexPetworth, West SussexArundel, West Sussex,Swanbourne Lake, Arundel, west SussexWildhive, Callow Hall, DerbyshireLoch Lomond National Park, Scotland  To discover more about the Recharge in Nature Project, visit bmw.co.uk/NationalParks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 9! It’s great to be back. Get ready to tantalise your taste buds and whet your appetite, because today we are joined by the master of all things delicious, Chef James Martin.James has been cooking up a storm on TV screens for over 20 years, and has written over 20 cookbooks as well, selling millions of copies worldwide.Born and raised in Yorkshire, James remains a Yorkshire lad through and through and still spends plenty of time in his home county, which he tells us about today. You’ll hear that James has had a huge passion for food since childhood, and he was just 22 when he gained his first Michelin star working as the head chef at the Hotel du Vin in Winchester. His down-to-earth personality and infectious enthusiasm quickly caught the attention of TV producers, and it was his regular appearances on "Ready Steady Cook" that really brought him to the public's attention.From there, he landed his own cooking show, BBC's "Saturday Kitchen,” which he hosted for over ten years, while opening restaurants in Manchester and at Chewton Glen hotel in Hampshire. Now he's the host of Saturday Morning with James Martin on ITV, alongside several foodie travel shows like "James Martin's French, Mediterranean and American Adventures” - so travel has been an incredibly important feature in his career so far. James' travel diaries today take us from the west coast of Scotland to the golden Caribbean sands of St Barths, from the quintessential British seaside of Blackpool to a culinary road trip through Wales, and much more. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a culinary novice, sit back, relax, as we kick off a big new season of the travel diaries with James Martin.Destination Recap:Holly’s travels -Lilycombe Farm, Somerset, EnglandThe Nook, Hillside Hangouts, Worcestershire, EnglandJames Martin -The Lygon Arms, Worcestershire, EnglandRobin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, EnglandBlackpoolMalton, North Yorkshire, EnglandHotel de Plaisance, Vitrac, FranceChewton Glen, Hampshire, England West Coast of ScotlandSt Paul-de-Vence, FranceL'Isle sur la Sorgue, France Lake Annecy, FranceSt BarthsMonacoFood Road Trip in Wales: The Hardwick, Abergavenny, The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny and Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, MachynllethGreeceTurkeyJapanSpainIf you'd like to experience a taste of James' signature dishes, head to The Lygon Arms, and book a table at GRILL or TAVERN.With thanks to today’s sponsor -Kip Hideaways - The best of UK travel is just around the corner and with places already booking up fast now is the time to find and book a spring or summer break. Head to kiphideaways.com to find your perfect escape or give them a follow on Instagram @kiphideaways for the dreamiest U.K. travel inspiration. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode, follow me on Instagram @hollyrubenstein, You’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to the Season 8 finale of The Travel Diaries. You may have first got to know today’s guest as the bad boy of the reality TV show Made in Chelsea. Now married with three children to model Vogue Williams, who he met on the TV show, The Jump, he regularly tops the podcast charts as the co-host of the hilarious hit podcast, Spencer and Vogue, as well as entertaining listeners with his former Made in Chelsea co-star Jamie Laing, on the podcast, 6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer. It is of course, Spencer Matthews.Spencer has led a truly international life - not many people can say they grew up in a hotel on a small Caribbean island, and it was so interesting to chat to him about life there and how it shaped who he is today. He’ll be talking about his relationships with his old Made in Chelsea co-stars. And we also talk about Spencer’s recent time in Nepal. Spencer’s older brother Michael tragically died climbing Mt Everest in 1999, and Spencer has collaborated with Disney to make a documentary film called Finding Michael about the journey to try and find his body which was never brought home. I think this is the first time he’s spoken at length about the documentary and I was really touched by his honesty about such a monumental experience to go through and what it meant to him and his family. In fact, Spencer has taken on a number of huge challenges that we talk about on today’s episode in memory of his brother, taking him from the Sahara Desert to Arctic Sweden. Alongside that, he takes us from the South of France and Morocco to New York City and Paris.Destination Recap:Caunton, Newark, EnglandParis, France La Colle-Sour-Loup, France La Colombe D’Or, France St Barths, Caribbean Eden Roc Hotel, St BarthsSahara DesertMt Everest, NepalNamche Bazar, NepalNew York, NY, USAPalais Namaskar, Marrakech, Morocco The Mark, NY, USAThe Bowery, NY, USAKatz Deli, NY, USAThe Select Burger, NY, USA4 Charles Prime Rib, NY, USAArctic SwedenJapanArgentinaBrazil If you'd like to hear more from Spencer and his wife Vogue, you can tune in to his hit podcast, Spencer and Vogue, a Global original here.And don’t forget to check out his low- and no-alcohol drinks brand Clean Co, here.If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use Apple Podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com Thanks so much for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode I’m joined by one of British TV’s most famous faces, Richard Hammond. Stepping into the spotlight over twenty years ago, Richard became one third of the iconic trio to front the BBC's motoring show, Top Gear, alongside James May and Jeremy Clarkson. The show went on to become the world's most watched factual TV programme - as proven by the Guiness book of records - at its peak 350 million viewers around the world were tuning in each week. The show saw the trio travel all over the world to take on epic motoring challenges, which they’ve since continued on The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime, where the three embark on car related challenges across the world. Now when I say these shows have taken Richard all over the world, I’m not exaggerating: the filmography includes Norway, Canada, Botswana, Vietnam, Chile, Argentina, Namibia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, India, Madagascar, Mongolia - and that’s only half of them. Richard recounts some of these epic adventures on today’s episode, taking us from Canada to Botswana, to Bolivia, as well as to some much loved spots on British soil.Destination RecapThe Forest of Dean, EnglandBiblins Campsite, Ross-on-Wye, EnglandCoast to Coast walk across EnglandButtermere, Lake District, EnglandNorth Magnetic Pole, Northern Canada BotswanaMozambiqueCanadian ForestCambodia + Vietnam road tripMikadikadi Salt Flats, Botswana Kubu Island, BotswanaBolivian rain forestSouth PoleRichard Hammond's Workshop Season 2 will be available to stream exclusively on discovery+ from Monday 17th OctoberWith thanks to…Sonnwies, South Tyrol’s mountain family-only wellness hotel with its own organic farm. Head to sonnwies.com to find out more. If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com Thanks so much for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this special bonus destination special episode of The Travel Diaries podcast, brought to you in partnership with Tourism Ireland.Today, we are focussing specifically on one of my all time favourite destinations, the island of Ireland. With such a breadth of experiences and activities on offer in Ireland, it’s no wonder it’s such a popular destination to have been mentioned by my guests over the last seven seasons of the podcast and today I'm joined by one of Ireland's most loved exports, TV presenter, Angela Scanlon. She'll be drawing on her lifetime of affection for and travels in her home country, as we uncover her Irish Travel Diaries. So what will we discover? Let's get started and find out.Destination Recap:Co. Cork Newgrange, Co. MeathHill of Tara, Co. MeathNewgrange Farm, Co. MeathDublinKeem Bay, Co. MayoWild Atlantic WayGweedore, Co. DonegalGlandore, Co. CorkBellmullet, Co. MayoShraigh Beach, Belmullet, Co. MayoClaggan Island, Co. MayoClare Island, Co. MayoIf Angela’s Irish travel diaries have inspired you to book a trip to Ireland, you can discover more epic activities at ireland.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I'm joined by one of sports broadcasting’s most familiar faces, Gabby Logan. This summer alone we watched Gabby helm the Commonwealth Games, the European Championships, the Women’s Euros and the London Marathon, to name a few. She's been a trailblazer for women in sport, no doubt inspired by her own family sporting credentials as a former international gymnast herself, as well as being the daughter of a professional footballer and manager, and the wife of a rugby international. She’s also the host of the highly podcast The Midpoint, and a prolific writer, here today ahead of the launch of her new book, The First Half. Gabby has travelled all over the globe to cover the world’s greatest sporting events - as well as being a keen traveller in the few spare moments she has off. Today she takes us from Vermont and Vancouver to the islands of Kefalonia and St Barths, and much more.Destination Recap:South of FranceQatarRussiaLong Island, New York, USAHighlands of ScotlandGreeceGreek Islands yacht tour - KefaloniaVancouver, BC, CanadaLondon, EnglandJapanEuropean ski holidays in the AlpsRome, ItalyEden Roc hotel, St BarthsTwin Farms hotel, Vermont, USAPeruBadrutt's Palace, St Moritz, SwitzerlandMonacoIndiaGabby Logan’s new book ‘The First Half’ is available from October 13 in hardback, eBook and audio and you can purchase it now from book stores and online retailers.With thanks to…Briggs & Riley - Take part in this week’s competition to win a Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner (RRP £599), monogrammed with your initials & a set of Packing Cubes (£50) to make packing a breeze. To enter, follow @BriggsAndRiley and @HollyRubenstein on Instagram & tag two friends.If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com Thanks so much for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by podcasting royalty. He is the co-host of the mega-hit podcast Off Menu (one of my favourite podcasts) and Taskmaster the Podcast, too. He is a regular on our TV screens on shows like Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You; he's soon to be one of the new hosts of Pointless and he’s part of the esteemed judging panel on the Great British Menu. He is currently touring the UK with his critically acclaimed standup show, Electric. It is of course, Ed Gamble. From coastal California to a catastrophic cruise, romance in Japan and the beaches of Cyprus, Ed takes us on another wanderlust-inducing world tour, also picking his own dream Off menu-inspired menu from the different destinations he’s visited along the way.So fasten your seatbelts …Destination Recap:CyprusNew York, USANewquay, Cornwall, EnglandComedy Cellar, New York, USALas Vegas, NevadaThe Buffet at Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USACalifornia Road Trip, USAAce Hotel Palm Springs, USAThe Venetian, Las Vegas, USAThe Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, USATokyo, JapanKyoto, JapanRutobo, Kyoto, Japan Miyajima, JapanNara Deer Park, JapanMilk Bar, New York, USAFruit Market, Hull, EnglandSY23 Restaurant, Aberystwyth, WalesThe Little Chartroom, Edinburgh, Scotland Deep South BBQ Tour, USAMexicoA huge thank you to Ed Gamble. Ed is touring the country with his new stand-up show Electric. For tickets and further info, visit edgamble.co.uk With thanks to ... DK Eyewitness - Find "Go Here Instead" online at dk.com or at your local bookshop.If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com Thanks so much for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With over fifty restaurants, multiple Michelin stars and innumerable celebrity fans, Wolfgang Puck is one of the world’s most famous chefs and global restauranteurs. Born in Austria, he began cooking alongside his mother who was a chef, before starting his formal chef training at just 14 years old, quickly going on to cook at some of France's best restaurants. But, it wasn't an easy childhood, and Wolfgang is incredibly honest about the abusive relationship he had to endure with his step father at home, and how that has shaped who he is today, and where he still can’t bring himself to travel to as a result.It was far away from Austria, in Los Angeles, California, where Wolfgang really made a name for himself, garnering the attention of the Hollywood elite, arguably becoming the world’s first ‘celebrity chef’ and spearheading a revolution of Californian cuisine with his flagship restaurant, Spago. For over thirty years he has also been the official caterer of the Oscars, lining the stomachs of every gong hungry nominee, and he was even awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When you have global restaurant empire like Wolfgang you spend a lot of time travelling, and this episode takes us to some fabulous locations all over the world from Sardinia to Mexico, Capri to Japan.Destination Recap:45 Park Lane, London, England Spago, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, USAAustriaColchester, Essex, EnglandVillach, AustriaArlberg, Austria Park City, Utah, USAL'Oustau de Baumanière, Provence, France SardiniaCala di Volpe, Sardinia Bonifacio, CorsicaCabo San Lucas, MexicoMontage Los Cabos, Mexico Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, California, USACapri, Italy Quattro Passi Restaurant, Italy Budapest, Hungary Viva Mayr, AustriaJapanNile Cruise, Egypt UgandaIf you’d like to experience Wolfgang’s cuisine, then you should check out the new outdoor dining terrace of CUT at 45 Park Lane hotel, part of the Dorchester Collection in London, which is open for lunch and dinner. With thanks to…Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Thanks so much for listening.If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait til then, remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode we’re joined by one of the UK’s most successful singer-songwriters. He’s collaborated with everyone from Kylie Minogue to Bob Dylan and Nile Rogers, and recently sold out Wembley Arena - we’re joined today by the utterly delightful and extremely talented Jack Savoretti.Jack had a truly international upbringing, moving from London to Switzerland, and spending idyllic childhood summers in Portofino, Italy, where his father’s family hail from as well as on a remote Bahamian island - it’s a rather enviable childhood I have to say. It was a slow-burning rise to fame for Jack as a musician, who toured the UK for several years, all the while his fanbase grew and grew and it was his sixth album, Singing to Strangers, that finally hit the number one spot, and his most recent record, the sun-soaked and star-studded Europiana - which frankly couldn’t be a better talking point for the podcast, as it was inspired by his European upbringing and life - that was also a chart-topper too and it was really interesting to hear the story behind that.This episode is a love letter to the Mediterranean as well as a few spots farther afield, but as the night’s draw in here in England, I hope this injects a bit of sunshine into your day.Destination Recap:Liguria, Italy Formentera, SpainOxfordshire, EnglandLugano, SwitzerlandAscona, Switzerland Hotel Eden Roc, Ascona, SwitzerlandPortofino, ItalySan Fruttuoso, ItalyPierre Island, BahamasAbu DhabiSouth AmericaJack Savoretti’s latest single Dancing Through The Rain which is taken from Europiana Encore, a special extended edition of his chart topping album, Europiana, is out now.If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com Thanks so much for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 8 of The Travel Diaries! And who better to kick off the season than national treasures Si King and Dave Myers, a.k.a. the Hairy Bikers. My first duo on the pod, they’ve been entertaining Britain with their TV shows and books for over twenty years. Their unique blend of foodie expertise, humour and motorbike enthusiasm has earned them national treasure status. And part of their success has been their foodie travel shows, where they’ve biked incredible routes across the world, while experiencing local cuisines like their Asian Adventure, Mediterranean adventure, and US route 66 series to name just a few.I spoke to Si and Dave a little while back now - as you might know, Dave is currently undergoing chemo for cancer, and he spoke to me the night before his next round which he'd travelled down to London for. So to say I was truly touched that they took the time to talk about to The Travel Diaries is an understatement. One thing is for sure, the two of them adore travel, and this episode takes us from Namibia to India, Argentina to Estonia and many places in between.Destination RecapBamburgh Beach, Newfoundland, EnglandIsle of Man, England PortugalNamibiaMadurai, IndiaSouthern ItalyBuenos Aires, ArgentinaPatagonia, Argentina Valdes Peninsula, ArgentinaGrossglockner High Alpine Road, AustriaAtlas Mountains, MoroccoMexicoGhats, IndiaJapanLithuaniaRiga, LatviaTalinn, Estonia Finnish ArchipelagoSouthern TurkeyMacchu Pichu, PeruNigeriaPan American HighwayCheck out the Bikers’ podcast, Agony Uncles, wherever you get your podcasts.With thanks to today’s sponsors…Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.Visit Estonia - If the Bikers’ Baltic adventures have given you the wanderlust, why not Visit Estonia? Head to VisitEstonia.com to find out more.CV Villas - Browse the newly launched 2023 Collection and book your dream villa holiday at CVVillas.comAthletic Greens - It’s time to reclaim your health and arm your immune system with convenient, daily nutrition! Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/TTDIf you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by a legend of stage and screen. Britain’s naughtiest national treasure. It’s the award-winning actress, Miriam Margolyes. Miriam’s movie roles have included the BAFTA award-winning Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Age of Innocence’ and of course Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films. She’s appeared in a host of hugely popular TV shows from Blackadder and Miss Marple to more recently the Real Exotic Marigold Hotel and Call the Midwife. And she’s also a prolific travel documentarian filming in and around Australia, the US and Scotland to name a few. As a lifelong lover of Charles Dickens, she presented the successful BBC documentary series Dickens’ America and toured the world with her acclaimed one woman show ‘Dicken’s Women’ in which she played 23 characters based on or inspired by characters in Dickens’s novels.  Speaking to me from her Australian home, Miriam was so engaging and generous with her time both before, after and during the interview - so grab a cuppa, settle in and enjoy listening to the very widely travelled and very entertaining Miriam Margolyes. Destination Recap:Robertson, NSW, AustraliaAustraliaTuscany, ItalyKingsgate, Kent Coast, EnglandSt Margaret’s Bay, Kent, EnglandGlasgow, ScotlandIsle of Harris, ScotlandCambridge, England Norfolk, EnglandBasel, SwitzerlandZurich, Switzerland Lindt Chocolate Shop, Zurich, Switzerland Israel PalestineThe Rust Belt, USAIndiaItalyIreland IndonesiaKerala, IndiaCalcutta, India Giglio, ItalyFordyce, Scotland Rimini, ItalyAfricaMiriam is heading to a British theatre near you next month, as part of her upcoming book tour, in honour of the paperback release of her fantastic memoir, This Much is True. Head online for tickets.With thanks to…Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out more.DK Eyewitness - Get new editions of DK’s award-winning Eyewitness and Top 10 travel books and plan out adventures to the likes of Italy, Mexico, Spain or Costa Rica. Each guide is complete with updated listings, interest-led travel advice and the latest practical information. Find them all online or at your local bookshop.Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me coming up, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s destination special we are heading to one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. We're off to the South East of Europe, to a country of thousands of islands dotted throughout the Aegean and Ionian Seas. The cradle of Western civilization, its capital, Athens, is home to ancient landmarks dating back to the 5th-century B.C. like the Acropolis and the Parthenon. A country of magical natural landscapes, turquoise seas and secret beaches, with the longest coastline in Europe and the most welcoming locals. It is of course, Glorious Greece. Unsurprisingly, Greece, and in particular the Greek Islands have been a hugely popular choice by my podcast guests over the last seven seasons and what I’ve especially enjoyed is really how many of them are hidden gems that I personally wasn’t hugely familiar with.The first half of today’s episode is a tour around the islands featuring some of my favourite guests over the last few years, and then, afterwards, we’ll be joined by Greece travel expert, fellow podcaster and Greece resident, Heidi Fuller-Love who’ll be sharing her extensive expertise, tips, and recommendations for your next Greek holiday.Destination Recap:Tom Kerridge - Agistri Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - AeginaFiona Duncan - Koufonisia and AmorgosDavid Loftus - ParosYotam Ottolenghi - FolegandrosRaven Smith - MilosJo Malone - RhodesHeidi Fuller-Love’s Destination Recap:CreteE4 trail, CreteSitia Geopark, CreteSamaria Gorge, CreteKato Zakros, Crete Akoritiri, Santorini MarBella Elix, PargaNana Princess, CreteAgistriAeginaThirassia Thirassia Paradise SuitesAlonissosKarpathosEpirus MountainsFor more information about Greece head to visitgreece.gr and follow @GreeceGrammable on Instagram.With thanks to…Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out moreClinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is Britain’s undisputed Queen of breakfast telly. A national treasure, who for the last 12 years has been the host of her self-titled show on ITV, Lorraine - it is, of course, Lorraine Kelly.Lorraine became a journalist the hard way, working on local papers before working as a researcher on BBC Scotland, where bosses told her that, because of her Scottish accent, she’d never get a job in front of the camera. Oh how she proved them wrong. Joining TV-am she went on to report on some of the toughest stories of that era, from the Dunblane massacre to the Lockerbie bombings, with her characteristic compassion and empathy, before joining GMTV and the sofas of breakfast TV. What you might not know about Lorraine is that she is fanatical about travel. She has been practically everywhere, and is really intrepid in her travel choices. She takes us from the islands of the Outer Hebrides to the frozen landscape of Antarctica; from remote Botswana to the jungles of Uganda and much much more. Oh, and the occasional grumble in the background is her daughter Rosie’s sausage dog who also joined us for the chat.There’s a lot to cover today. So, let’s fasten our seatbelts and get started.Destination Recap:Glasgow, ScotlandParis. FranceOrkney, ScotlandThe Italian Chapel, Orkney, ScotlandSt Kilda, ScotlandSingaporeMarina Bay Sands hotel, SingaporeOrchard Road shops, SingaporeSentosa Island, Singapore Duxton Reserve, SingaporeAntarcticaFalkland IslandsAlaska, USASouthern AfricaBotswanaUgandaBorneoBarra, ScotlandHarris, ScotlandTunisia Rajasthan, IndiaMongoliaSiberiaThe ArcticListen to Lorraine’s podcast What If? wherever you get your podcasts.With thanks to…Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today. The Kensington Hotel - For bookings and more information click here.Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out moreThank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is a Travel Diaries first - a Listener Special where you, my amazing listeners, are this week’s special guests. I’ve interviewed many a star over the past seven seasons, but the real stars have been you, the listeners. Your incredible support has allowed the podcast to grow as quickly as it has, so it only felt right that I turn the tables, and the microphone, back on to you to tap into your collective wisdom and travel experiences, as you answer the seven chapters of the travel diaries. From China to Kerala, from Costa Rica to Puglia, from the rainforests of the Amazon to the plains of Kenya, fasten your seatbelts for the first ever Travel Diaries Listener Special.Destination Recap:Chapter One - Earliest Childhood Travel Memoriesfeaturing- Beijing, China from Tone in Surrey, England- France from Katja in SloveniaChapter Two - The First Place You Fell In Love Withfeaturing - Villefranche-sur-Mer, France from Emma in Edinburgh, Scotland- Austria from Joe from Somerset, England - Kerala, India from Emma in LondonChapter Three - The Place Where You Learnt The Most About Yourself featuring- Karditsa, Greece from Aoife in Ireland Chapter Four - All Time Favourite Destinationsfeaturing- Puglia, Italy from Tracey in Wexford, Ireland - Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest from Charlotte in New Zealand- Nice, France from Jen in Belfast, Northern Ireland - Kenya from Emma in Worcestershire Chapter Five - Hidden Gemsfeaturing- San Gerardo de Rivas in Costa Rica from Mani in Birmingham, England - Rendezvous Bay, Antigua from Charlie in the Wirral, England - Red Wharf Bay on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales from Shireen in WalesChapter Seven - The Destination At The Top Of Your Travel Bucket Listsfeaturing- Toronto, Canada from Ellie in East Sussex, England - Japan from Aaron in South WalesWith thanks to…Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out more.Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.