Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Today will see the first easyJet flight from Gatwick to Luxor take off, opening up southern Egypt to travellers. Philip Breckner, director of Discover Egypt, tells me about the opportunities around Luxor and Aswan on the Nile. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

I am talking to Harald Henning, director of the German National Tourist Office in the UK, in a tiny Trabant car. Almost 35 years ago he bought one in Berlin for £25 and drove it to London as a competition prize. He recalls the unification of German – and talks about what makes the capital so special. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delive...

I'm in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, in the company of Roland Hunter – founder of The Mountain Company and an expert on trekking in the Himalayas. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I love a new niche guidebook and I'm particularly curious about Travel Guides For The Wine Curious. Today I'm interviewing Adam Lechmere, Publishing Director of Acadmy Du Vin, to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monaco Grand Prix week and I'm interviewing out Global Travel Editor, Annabel Grossman, who has been there, about the travel and hotel experiences of the super rich in Monaco. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm interviewing Mark Tanzer the CEO of Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to discuss the travel industry and the European entry-exit system. According to him the travel industry appears to be recovering steadily from the pandemic. Investors are looking to join the industry, people are continuing to prioritise experiences and travel agents could make a comeback. This podcast is free, as i...

Most airlines overbook their seats, in fact you and I have probably both flown on an overbooked flight. How do you feel about that? I don't mind at all, I think it's great that you can ask an airline for a last minute flight and they're more likely to give you a seat, worrying about the specifics later on. Here's how I benefit from overbooking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

I've been travelling on the Eurostar for nearly 30 years now since it's launch in November 1994. But recently, I've been finding that the eye-watering prices has meant I've rather fallen out of the habit. In this episode though I take a look at Eurostar Snap, which is a ticket scheme aimed at making the most of an opportunity for the right price. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's we...

Snap up a Eurostar bargain? I’m back at London St Pancras International, home of the Channel Tunnel rail firm, with an exploration of the new discount tickets for passengers prepared to book late and have no choice about the departure time on the day they choose to travel. This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Host...

It's Travel Desk Tuesday which means we're interviewing Annabel Grossman, Global Travel Editor for The Independent, who says that when asked about her favourite place to go in the world she keeps thinking of Pembrokeshire. From St Davids to Tenby to some of the most beautiful coasts in the world the county has a lot to offer. This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newslet...

SAS airlines recently made the shift from Star Alliance to Sky Team. Rhys Jones, writer at Head For Points, explains what that actually means. Rhys talks us through how alliances work and why they exist, as well as what 'codesharing' mean in airline lingo. This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See...

As we enter the cusp of winter you might assume that travellers are reducing however according to my guest, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of advantage today people, who have the option, are increasingly choosing unconventional times of the year to go away. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here . Hosted on Acast. S...

Today I'm speaking to Alastair Willson, Chief Executive of Ascend Airways. His airline help other airlines overcome operational difficulty by supplying the aircraft and the cabin crew for them. As the industry becomes increasingly seasonal, with there being a huge difference between the number of summer flyers compared to the winter, Ascend Airways can step in for these disparities. This podcast i...

The third-quarter financial results from the UK’s biggest airport are out –I’ve been hearing the details from chief financial officer Sally Ding about passenger numbers and how Taylor Swift's Era Tour gave a late-summer surge for travel hubs like Heathrow Airport. This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here . Hosted on Acast...

What happens when a single female goes to a couples’ resort in the Caribbean? Find out from Natalie Wilson, who recently returned from Sandals St Vincent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kaya Niedenthal of Currency Online Group to discuss the recent fluctuations in currency markets, how the strength of the pound and dollar impacts travel, and why cash still plays a vital role—even in an era dominated by plastic payments. We also delve into tips for getting the best rates and why some places still prefer good old-fashioned cash.     This...

You pay a fortune for a business-class ticket because you want to experience the sumptuous new comfort of the latest generation of the premium product – and then the airline changes the plane type and you're back with a seat that is almost prehistoric in modern aviation terms. Rob Burgess, founder of the frequent-flyer website Head for Points, is demanding a suite guarantee. This podcast is free,...

Yesterday I was at Gatwick – today it's Heathrow, the one true hub airport in the UK. Within six months, transit passengers changing between international flights will need to pay £10 and fill in an online form for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – making the UK's policy completely at odds with other nations. Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris CDG, Istanbul, and Dubai will be celebrating yet ano...

Winter is coming – and for UK airports that can spell trouble. I'm at London Gatwick, talking to Chief Operating Officer Mark Johnston about preparations for ice and snow at the world's busiest single-runway airport. Plans include polar bears and yetis... This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter.  Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Travel Desk Tuesday today features Ben Parker, UK travel editor (and secret surfer), who has returned from an island-hopping trip around Hawaii – where he learned about the links between Hawaiian royalty and the British monarchy. This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter.  Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

By mid-October many of us are looking at options for winter sun. For my money, the optimum combination of great weather, ancient history and good value is to be found in Egypt. I'm talking to Philip Breckner, director of Discover Egypt, about the options – and the prospects of the much-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum opening later this month. This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newslet...

The EU Entry Exit System has been postponed again. But when it is rolled out it could delay our entrance to the Schengen Area. Here's what it means for you ... This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter.  Get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The airline city-centre ticket office is making a comeback. In the 20th century, every airline had walk-in shops in all the major cities served. But that was in the bad old days of extremely high fares that could pay for lavish rentals in areas like Mayfair. They disappeared when online booking took hold. But this week Emirates has opened a fancy new store in Kensington, west London, where prospec...

England's worst motorway is the M42 south and east of Birmingham, according to a new survey of over 9,000 motorists by Transport Focus. I've been finding out more about this despised dual carriageway – and what can be done to improve the driver experience – with Alex Robertson, chief executive of the independent watchdog. This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter.  Get it d...

In this episode, Simon Calder chats with Annabel Grossman about her intense skiing journey through the isolated landscape of Fins, Norway. Known as “Little Antarctica,” this region tests even the most experienced explorers. Annabel reflects on her trek, led by polar explorer Wendy Searle, and shines a spotlight on the untold stories of women thriving in extreme adventure travel. This podcast is fr...