Global Travel Planning

Sunrise over Angkor Wat sounds like a dream, but the real story is everything around it: the 4.15am alarm, the crowds gathering in the dark, the heat that arrives later, and the small choices that make the day feel easy rather than exhausting. In this episode Doug and I share our five days in Cambodia, from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, what we booked, what we'd do again, and why we already know w...

If your Antarctica cruise calls at the Falkland Islands, this episode is for you. Seventh-generation Falkland Islander Roxy King-Clark of Lupin Tours joins Tracy to share how to make the most of your time there, whether you're stopping for a day on a cruise or flying in. - Where the Falklands are and what British Overseas Territory status means - Growing up in Stanley as a seventh-generation...

We map out our full 19-day Vietnam itinerary, from Hanoi to Da Nang, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, including the tours we rate and the hotels we would happily book again. We also share the tough bits, from a Ha Long Bay trip that went wrong to a hospital visit that proved why flexibility and travel insurance matter. - Our 19-day route across four stops, and why it works well with Cambodia - Why a p...

Two and a half hours from Johannesburg, no malaria tablets, no light aircraft, and we still saw all of the Big Five in a day. After three weeks in Cape Town, we headed north for Doug's very first safari, staying at Kwa Maritane Lodge inside Pilanesberg Game Reserve and heading out on private game drives with our guide, Heinrich. Why Pilanesberg Works for a First Safari from Johannesburg What...

Adventure gets sold to us as faster, harder, higher. In this week's Tracy chats with Lynne Nieman, founder of Wander Your Way and Wander Your Way Adventures , about soft adventure travel in Europe and why gentle can be the most memorable way to explore. What soft adventure means and what it avoids Why Europe's countryside and small towns make travel feel more connected Simple ways to add...

Winter might not be the obvious time to visit Cape Town, but after three weeks there we would happily do it all again. Cape Town in winter turns out to be quieter, cheaper and far more enjoyable than we had envisaged, so in this episode we share the practical details that made our stay smooth, from where we based ourselves to how we handled transport, tipping and staying connected. In this episode...

We share the Cape Town highlights from our three week winter stay, from Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront to day trips for penguins, history and wine. We also talk honestly about what surprised us, what we skipped, and how to plan around weather, tours and travel comfort. The tablecloth cloud and winter wind can change everything fast, so we explain how we handled tickets, when to go, and...

We talk with Paris-based wine expert Elisa about how to plan a French wine trip that fits your taste, your budget, and your travel style, whether you are wine-curious or a long-time collector. We share practical ways to choose regions, book tastings, and build a full vineyard experience that goes beyond the bottle.  • France as a top wine travel destination thanks to wine, food, landscapes and cul...

Nine months on the road with a five-month-old baby and a twelve-year-old chihuahua is ambitious. Doing it after your carefully planned French long-stay visa is rejected two days before the flight is something else entirely. In this week's episode, Tracy is joined by travel writer Riana Ang-Canning of Teaspoon of Adventure, freshly home in Vancouver after a slow travel adventure that took her...

After more than 20 years and close to 50 countries together, Doug and I share the actual routine we follow before every international trip. Not a generic list, just the 10 things that keep us organised, connected and confident. Booking your airport transfer in advance eSIMs and VPNs, sorted before you leave home The apps we download before we fly Travel insurance and why it matters more than you t...

AI can generate an itinerary in seconds. What it cannot do is sit with your story, hear what a place means to you, or notice the detail that changes everything. That is what this conversation is about. Tracy and Cate from My Germany Vacation explore why the most unforgettable trips are built on personal meaning, not perfect lists, covering: Cate's 2019 Germany road trip with Aaron and why sha...

£25 for a 14-hour sleeper train with beds, a sink, and power points. £6.50 for a seven-hour scenic ride across central Türkiye. If you've ever assumed Türkiye is a fly-and-spend destination, this episode is here to change that picture entirely. Tracy is joined by Sinead, a York-based travel blogger and passionate train traveller, to walk through her family's 12-day loop: Istanbul, down t...

Scotland's Outer Hebrides don't forgive poor planning. Ferries sell out, accommodation is limited, and the roads demand your full attention. But get it right and you're rewarded with some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. In this episode Tracy has just returned from Lewis, Harris, and Skye and is sharing exactly how she put the trip together so you can do the same. W...

Travel has shaped everything about who I am, and I wanted to get personal and answer the questions you’ve been sending in: why I travel so much, how it all began, what destinations I love most, and how I actually plan a trip without turning it into a stressful project. If you enjoy honest stories and practical travel planning, this solo chat is for you. I talk through the places that keep calling...

Narelle Mather joins Tracy to share how she planned and took a three-and-a-half-week multi-country train trip through Europe with her husband, sister, and a close friend.  Starting in London and finishing in Warsaw, the group travelled through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland using a first-class Eurail pass bought at a discount more than a year in advance.  Narelle covers everything from c...

How to Plan an Independent Trip to China: Trains, Apps, Payments & Real Tips When you think of China, you probably think of Beijing, Shanghai, or the Great Wall. But planning an independent trip across such a vast and culturally different country can feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy Collins is joined by traveller Lucy, who shares insights from her...

In this episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, host Tracy Collins and co-host Doug Collins swap roles with special guest interviewer Amanda Kendle as they share their firsthand trip report from the Philippines. The conversation centres on their ten-night stay at Moalboal Eco Lodge , located a few hours southwest of Cebu. Tracy and Doug share what it was like staying in an eco-conscious acc...

This week Tracy is joined by Japan travel specialist Helen Foster to share expert advice on visiting Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. If you are planning your first Japan trip and considering adding a theme park, this episode covers what you really need to know before you go. Helen draws on nine trips to Japan to explain how each park differs, how ticketing...

What makes Switzerland one of the most breathtaking countries in the world to explore by train? This week Tracy is joined by Switzerland travel expert Carolyn, founder of Holidays to Switzerland, to talk about the scenic rail journeys and mountain excursions that draw visitors back again and again. From iconic panoramic trains like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express to shorter but equally spe...

This week Tracy is joined by seasoned travel podcaster and traveller Chris Christensen, host of the Amateur Traveler podcast , to share his recent experience travelling through the Peruvian Amazon. Together, they explore why this vast and remote region is far more accessible than many travellers expect. Drawing on Chris’s small-group river expedition, the conversation offers a clear-eyed look at w...

Ever wondered what it actually takes to reach Antarctica and what it feels like when your boots hit the ice? We open up the journey, from long-haul hops to Ushuaia and life aboard a small HX Expeditions hybrid ship to the reality of the Drake Passage, then unpack how strict biosecurity and expert-led briefings make this fragile place accessible without losing what makes it special. From the first...

Planning a great trip in 2026 shouldn’t feel like a second job. We’re kicking off the year with a clear roadmap for slower, more intentional travel—fewer destinations, deeper experiences, and practical steps that make every day on the road feel easier and more rewarding. Tracy shares what’s ahead on Podcast, from Antarctica reflections and the Peruvian Amazon to Morocco, the Philippines, and a dee...

This week Tracy and Doug reflect on a year filled with global adventures, practical travel advice, and behind-the-scenes stories from life on the road and behind the microphone. From Tracy reaching her seventh continent to shared reflections on travelling at pace, they look back on some of their favourite destinations of 2025, including Sri Lanka, Spain, Malaysia, Morocco, and more , along with st...

Epic landscapes deserve an equally epic way to travel. We’re diving into the romance and reality of rail: why trains make holidays start at the platform, how sleepers turn miles into memories, and which routes around the world are worth planning your next adventure around. We start with five reasons trains win: lower emissions and real sustainability gains, genuine comfort with room to move, dinin...

This week, the mic is flipped. Tracy invites her friend and fellow podcaster Amanda Kendle ( The Thoughtful Travel Podcast ) to quiz her about the moments that shaped a lifetime of travel. From a grandmother’s pack of postcards that sparked obsession to the Gerald Durrell books that made strangers feel familiar, and a teenage long haul to London that dissolved fear at the airport gate. What unfold...