Blogger at Large Travel Podcast

I met LA comedian/waitress and tour guide Noelle Hoffman last year when we joined one of her tours up to the Hollywood sign. In this episode she spills the goss on who you're likely to see when you walk in the Hollywood Hills, and who the A-list celebrity is who makes a fuss if they can't get ketchup to pour all over their expensive steak!

Read Megan's travel blog www.bloggeratlarge.com
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I grabbed a few minutes onboard an Avalon Waterways ship to interview cruise director Bram Von Dyk as we sailed on the Danube from Vienna to Nuremberg. We discuss the best things to do and see along the river, what happens when ships can't sail due to the river running to high or too low, plus Bram's recommendation for our next Christmas cruise!

Read Megan's travel blog www.bloggeratlarge.com
You can also join the...

Today's guest is Joyce Kiehl, director of communications at Greater Palm Springs. I've known Joyce for years and visited Palm Springs four or five times, so we delve into what's new and when the biggest events are on. If you've done LA many times and are looking for somewhere else to spend a few days, just a 2-hour drive east and you're in the desert with mineral hot springs, spas, mid-century modern archit...

Sarah Chant runs New Zealand Travel Tips, a website and Facebook page with over 42,000 followers. It's only been going about a year and has a really engaged readership of local and international visitors who ask questions and help each other out.
If you're looking for all things NZ, from where to stay, things to do, where to eat - you name it, someone will know!
She also has exclusive arrangements with many local ...

I chatted with Heather Egan, director of Leisure and International Sales at Grapevine Texas. Where?! I know, right!
Grapevine is the city where Dallas Fort Worth Airport is located, and makes an excellent stopover as it's literally smack in between the two cities. But there is a lot to do there. So much that a weekend wouldn't be long enough.
Listen to our chat about the wines (obvs!), craft beer scene, historic t...

Today I chatted with Rachel Mackey, Marketing Manager NZ for Cook Islands Tourism. 

We had a great time talking about things to know before you go, some tips for great places to eat and stay. Some fun activities that are well worth booking in advance so you don't miss out.

For more about my trip to the Cooks, I've got some posts over on the blog on Raro https://www.bloggeratlarge.com/rarotonga-things-to-...

Brent Thomas is not only COO of House of Travel, but also President of TAANZ (Travel Agents Association NZ). We talk about how the travel industry is faring in New Zealand, what is coming up on the horizon and how the government needs to drop quarantine at the border for incoming visitors if we are to not only get the travel industry moving again, but businesses and families connecting once more.
"Self isolation for Omicro...

On today's podcast I talked with Miranda Plummer, managing director of Be My Guest Waiheke. She manages about 50 private properties that guests can rent from small studios on a beach to huge, architecturally designed houses with outstanding views. 
We also talked about things to do on Waiheke, whether you need a car to get around and the trend she's seeing of elopements!

Read Megan's travel blog www.bloggeratlarge...

This month Genting Cruise Line's Dream Cruise ships chalked up 1 year of cruising - through the pandemic - carrying out domestic cruises in and out of Singapore.
Brigita Devries is Vice President Sales & Marketing, Managing Director Australia & NZ for Genting Cruise Line's three brands, based in Sydney.
We talked about what it's like onboard a Dream cruise ship (the cuisine, the entertainment, the new...

I interviewed Sonya Lawson, Tourism Fiji Regional Director NZ, about the latest updates on Fiji as it prepares to open to the world on December 1st. 
They are on the forefront of Covid protocols with the Care Fiji Commitment Protocol for accommodation providers and every touch point a tourist would have in Fiji.
Plus hear how some local hospitality operators made use of the past 20 months and have opened food trucks and eve...

I am hosting 4 small group tours in 2022.
3 in New Zealand: 
Hokianga, Bay of Islands and Northland in February
Nelson, Abel Tasman, Hokitika Wildfoods Festival with Trans Alpine to Christchurch in March
Queenstown, Wanaka and Clyde in Autumn in April

Plus a fabulous Greek Islands Cruise with optional Italy tour add-on in September

Read Megan's travel blog www.bloggeratlarge.com
You can also join th...

Today I got to interview Theresa Belpulsi, VP of Tourism, Sports and Visitor Services at Destination DC. 
We spoke about the latest Covid protocols in the city, and what's been happening in DC over the past 2 years. She shared her pick for the most special experience in DC that she takes all her out of town friends to, plus 2 new museums and 26 new hotels that have opened during the pandemic.

Read Megan's travel blog w...

In this episode I interview Sean Martin, G Adventures managing director for Australia and New Zealand. We discuss (I should say lament!) the state of travel at the moment, talk about what's happening with their tours globally and hear about some new itineraries they've launched that are going great guns.

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My friend and fellow travel writer, Rob McFarland celebrated Freedom Day in Sydney this week with a haircut is excitedly off out for dinner once we'd finished this podcast! He told me what it's been like for Australians in lockdown, the new 5-day home quarantine starting next month for Aussies to be able to travel overseas and a fancy new 6-star hotel in Sydney! Plus a new Bondi to Manly 80km walk which you can do over da...

I spoke to Rachel Williams, founder and director of Viva Expeditions who has found a clever way to pivot her business from South America and Antarctica tours to taking people on all-night flights to the Southern Lights. The aurora Australis.
See the brochure https://online.flippingbook.com/view/605947036/

Read Megan's travel blog www.bloggeratlarge.com
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