Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Simon Calder is the Independent’s travel correspondent, the UK’s leading travel journalist. From news updates to discussions with experts, Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast will bring you all you need to know from the world of travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
What a week it has been, as conflict surged and then waned in the Middle East – with dozens of flights cancelled and tens of thousands of people stranded by the sudden closure of Qatari airspace. To put current events in perspective, I'm talking to Jane Kinninmont, chief executive of UNA-UK – the United Nations Association.
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I'm at the Alpine Club in Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London – where, between 11am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays to 18 July 2025, you can find a fascinating exhibition of the work of Everest pioneer Howard Somervell.
He was one of the world's best climbers – and an artist of high repute. And Graham Hoyland, who is writing a biography of Howard Somervell, provides a fascinating insight into his life and work.
Just ahead of the summer peak, a warning from Lloyd Figgins, CEO of the Trip Group, about cybersecurity while on the road. Are you sure that is the coffee shop's wifi, and doesn't belong to that chap sitting in the corner with a laptop?
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Young, gifted and cabin crew. No, not me – my excellent colleague Natalie Wilson, who reports in from an experience day at British Airways' global training academy, where she was drilled in some of the skills required to work on commercial aircraft.
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I am at Gatwick airport, busy as always, but keeping tabs on the unfolding disruption in the Middle East. British Airways has cancelled a series of flights to and from Dubai and Doha.
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I am talking to my excellent colleague, Natalie Wilson, about how much time people should allow to reach and get through the airport. It follows a social media trend about "airport theory" in the US.
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Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK – which includes P&O Cruises and Cunard – says cruise is a benefit to all.
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I'm talking to Powell Ettinger, founder and director of the Small Cruise Ship Collection – covering vessels from eight to 250 people. Most carry 40-100 passengers. River cruising on one of these vessels has many advantages
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Hundreds of flights are being diverted around closed airspace – these are the key impacts, and your rights.
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Norway has strict new rules in place to protect polar bears in Svalbard (Spitzbergen) from encroachment by tourists. The government in Oslo says: "It is important for them to be able to search for food, hunt, rest, and take care of their cubs without interference from humans." But my guest today, expedition leader and photographer Paul Goldstein, says the rules go too far.
24 hours after the heartbreaking loss of Air India flight AI171, my reflections on the tragedy and what investigators will be looking for.
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I am in Palma, where I met up with an English chef who has made a name for himself – and his restaurant. Marc Fosh talks about Mallorca as an island of plenty, with all the ingredients for a feast – including outstanding wine.
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I’m on something of a personal campaign to persuade more people to add a day or two to their trip to visit one of my favourite Portuguese locations – Cascais, the port planted elegantly on the shoreline west of the capital, Lisbon, on what’s known as the Portuguese Riviera. It was settled in turn by Romans, Visigoths and Moors and today the centre of Cascais is an intriguing combination of sun-worn houses, cafés shops and smart hot...
Eurostar promises a new Golden Age of rail with new direct links from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, as I've been hearing from the cross-Channel train operator's chief executive, Gwendoline Casenave.
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I'm talking to Lloyd Figgins of Travel Risk & Incident Prevention about a course designed for adventurers.
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I'm back in the USSR – or at least what was a small part of that vast and brutal empire.
Today, Lithuania is a modern, democratic nation and a member of the European Union. Its capital, Vilnius, shook off its communist chains 35 years ago.
As excellent tourist guide Ieva – from Vilnius With Locals – told me, the scars still run deep. But there is much to celebrate...
Today I'm talking to Martin Johnson, chair of the Expedition Cruise Network, about the ships that take travellers to the ends of the world.
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I really enjoyed talking to Christine Shacklady, Managing Director of the TRIP Group – Travel Risk & Incident Prevention. She began with some top safety tips, and then the conversation veered off towards wonderful Venezuela.
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My excellent colleague, Natalie Wilson, has just returned from a short but intensive exploration of Sweden with Intrepid, and talks about the food, drink, coffee culture and beauty ... as well a welcome encounter with a moose.
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My friend Arvi has just returned from Uzbekistan, and – aged 80, having visited every country in the world, is now planning his next adventure. After a lifetime of travelling, Arvi has much to share with us.
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