Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Despite the spread of contactless payments around the world, it's always useful to have some cash. And, more broadly, where are the locations where you might be wise to change some money now for a trip later in the year. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heathrow has just announced record passenger numbers for 2024 – but it has a much bigger prize in its sights. I have been talking to Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive of the UK's busiest airport, about his plans for the future – and the natural environmental concerns about expansion. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbo...

I'm talking to Issam Kazim, responsible for Dubai Tourism, about the remarkable visitor numbers and "key performance indicators" (KPIs) – and, with Ramadan about to start, the prospects for a visit during that Islamic month of fasting. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

It’s a busy week for airport announcements in the London area. On Wednesday Heathrow is likely to say more on its expansion plans for an added runway – and Gatwick is hoping to hear a decision from the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, about its hopes to bring the standby runway into permanent use. I’ve been speaking to Stewart Wingate, chief executive of London Gatwick. This podcast is free,...

Today the second episode of a special two-part podcast with Barry Collins – a property developer from Eastbourne who decided to take up the SAS million-point challenge. He had to fly on 15 of the 17 SkyTeam airlines in the last few months of 2024 to learn 1,000,000 frequent flyer points. We last heard from him when, at Jakarta, a fellow frequent-flyer broke it to him that some of his flights didn'...

On Thursday and Friday I am bringing you a special two-part podcast with Barry Collins – a property developer from Eastbourne who decided to take up the SAS million-point challenge. Fly 15 of the 17 SkyTeam airlines and you earn 1,000,000 frequent flyer points. All began well … This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hoste...

As talk of a peace deal intensifies, Russia remains on the no-fly list for the UK and European Union. But many airlines from outside Europe are happy to fly to and from Moscow, St Petersburg and elsewhere – with the UAE better connected than ever, including flights on Air Arabia for only £80 one way between Abu Dhabi and Moscow. Access from the UK via Belgrade and Istanbul is easy. But be warned t...

“You won’t find cheaper tickets anywhere else”: that is the remarkable pledge from rail retailer Trainline. A poster campaign outside one of the UK’s busiest railway stations creates the impression that the market-leading ticketing firm is at least as cheap as other sources. But I have different recommendations to save money when you travel by train. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel'...

An exclusive for you today. After five years of closure to tourists, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will receive its first Western visitors this week. As Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours has been telling me, only a small and remote region, Rason, will initially open. NB: The Foreign Office warns against visiting North Korea. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel'...

Mind the gap – between what train drivers on London's Elizabeth line have been offered, and what they believe they deserve. The employers have offered a 4.5% raise which would take their annual salary above £75,000, but the members of the train drivers' union, Aslef, have voted overwhelmingly to strike on four days in February and March. Are they pushing their luck? This podcast is free, as is Ind...

Network Rail wants passengers to stay safe at stations – not running for their trains – and to avoid delays to trains at London King's Cross, the hub for the East Coast main line. So it is trialling removing trains from the departures board three minutes before departure. In response, I have been trialling how long it takes to walk from the concourse to the mysterious platform 0. This podcast is f...

After a trip involving six intercontinental flights, I have arrived back at Birmingham airport over an hour behind schedule. The sequence since leaving the UK two weeks ago goes: Cancelled, Late, Cancelled, Late, Late, Late. Don't put too much store by the airlines' schedules. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted...

On Travel Desk Tuesday, I’m talking to Annabel Grossman, global travel editor for The Independent, about Lonely Planet’s selection of alternative romantic destinations for 14 February. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an unprecedented and coordinated attack, the airlines that use Heathrow airport – as well a prominent hotelier – are demanding lower charges and higher standards. Virgin Atlantic, British Airways’ parent IAG, the Heathrow Airline Operators’ Committee (AOC) and the Arora hotel group say the current way that charges are set by the Civil Aviation Authority are not fit for purpose. Heathrow says it...

When do airlines give upgrades, and who are the beneficiaries? Spoiler alert: it will help if you marry a captain. But I wonder if upgrades are actually worth a huge amount? My very limited experience of business class travel suggests they may be overrated. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Michael O’Leary has been chief executive of Ryanair since 1994, and over the past three decades he has taken the carrier from a small and unprofitable regional airline to the biggest in Europe in terms of passenger numbers. Today he’s talking about Heathrow’s third runway, Air Passenger Duty and his plans to base aircraft in Ukraine when the skies reopen to passenger flights This podcast is free,...

At the very end of 2024, British Airways revealed comprehensive changes to its loyalty programme, which will mean access to its top tiers will be aligned with high spending on the airline and its holiday operation. After 43 years, the BA Executive Club is to be renamed The British Airways Club from 1 April, 2025. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to g...

Access to most areas of China is getting easier, with a new light-touch online visa and an extension of the valuable "transit without visa" option. With travel to Asia surging, I have been talking to top tour operator Wendy Wu. She says her firm, Wendy Wu Tours, can untangle the red tape. Also: why a visit to China right now will prove especially rewarding. This podcast is free, as is Independent...

The “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” is arguably the strangest nation in the world (although Turkmenistan gives it a run for its money). It has been closed to Western tourists for five years, but could it be on the point of reopening? Simon Cockerell, Koryo Tours General Manager and frequent North Korea, says nothing is certain – and meanwhile his company can offer more accessible destinati...

January seems to have been going on forever, which has been dismal for many – but promising for travel agents. I’ve been talking to Ashley Quint, director of Hertfordshire agency Travel Time. There’s intense interest in exotic-but-safe Japan, though manage your expectations on the price. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly podcast. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox...

After Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced government backing for expansion at London Heathrow airport, I've been to Harmondsworth – the pretty village that will be half-demolished if the plan for a third runway goes ahead. I met Rob Barnstone, coordinator of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, and Justine Bayley of the Stop Heathrow Expansion group. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly...

On the day chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to back expansion at Heathrow, I'm talking to Paul Charles, chief executive of the PC Agency and former communications director for Virgin Atlantic. He spells out the problem of airport connectivity, and what he believes should be done. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly podcast. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Ho...

It’s Travel Desk Tuesday, and today I’m talking to my excellent colleague Natalie Wilson about new aviation jargon creeping into the travel lexicon: lice, of the gate and aisle varieties; check-in chicken; and rawdogging, which, frankly, sounds dismal. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly podcast. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Nicholas and Karen Wood run Political Tours, which aims to help you "see the world like a reporter does". On their travel agenda this year: Mexico (the country, not the Gulf), Trieste to Rome in Italy, Ireland, Cyprus, Taiwan, and South Africa. But not currently Israel/Palestine, Russia, or Iran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's grim out there! Today I'm at London's Kings Cross station reporting on what might just be the worst weather-related travel chaos I've ever seen. There are cancellations and closures in the skies, on the railways and on the roads across the UK and Northern Ireland. If you're trying to travel today, this is essential listening! This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly podcast. Si...