Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Travellers trying to reach the Eurovision Song Contest and the FA Cup Final by rail could find their trains cancelled by a series of strikes. The main rail union, the RMT, and the train drivers’ union, Aslef, have called more walk-outs in May and June. Staff will stop work at more than a dozen train operators, including all the key long-distance and commuter rail firms. On Friday 12 May, Wednesday...

I’m at Luton Airport Parkway (yes, living the dream once more) to test the new Dart shuttle from the railway station to the terminal (not too impressed with the “every 10 minutes” frequency, especially when combined with delayed trains from London) and report on Ryanair deploying shiny new Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Luton in a bid to win hearts, minds and passengers from main incumbents easyJet an...

After Brexit, the European Union gave us exactly what we wanted in terms of border formalities: "third-country national" status, the same as people from Tonga, Venezuela and other faraway nations, with our passports stamped and scrutinised. Now Rishi Sunak is wondering if a softer approach might be possible. Here's what it's all about. This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscri...

Today's travel podcast is a version of car-pool karaoke – I'm discussing the best rental cars for work or pleasure with cameraman-director Douglas Bolton. Unlike me, he is a very good and enthusiastic driver. Yet his choice of best all-round vehicle surprised me. This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

You're not alone if you don't know what Abta and Aito mean. You might see these acronyms being advertised by travel agents and I'm here to help you understand why they're important, what sort of organisation they are, who they serve, how they can help you as a traveller and what kind of legitimacy they give to a travel agent or tour operator. Charlotte Hindle is here with me asking our reader's qu...

I'm at London St Pancras International station, to celebrate a useful and straightforward online promotion on Eurostar summer fares: until midnight next Wednesday, 26 April, you can save 10 per cent on Standard and Standard Premier return tickets between 6 June and 23 August. Use the discount code EARTH23 at checkout. On a test booking for a London-Paris trip, outbound on 1 August and back a week...

Heathrow airport is set for “May mayhem” as security staff walk out again, according to the Unite union. The eight days of strikes are timed to coincide with busy family travel dates as well as the peak days around the Coronation. Here's everything you need to know. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

I’m on the rails in Germany – where the trains have much to recommend them, but punctuality can be a problem. Seamless connections can all too easily fall apart – don’t set your heart on arriving exactly when the Zeitplan says you will. Of course this podcast, is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

British travellers and other “third country nationals” entering the EU will not be required to have their fingerprints and facial biometrics taken until 2024 at the earliest. Europe’s much-delayed  entry/exit system (EES)  was expected to take effect in 2021. It is currently due to commence in November 2023. But I understand that the electronic border scheme will not now go ahead this ye...

After leaving the European Union, the UK demanded British passport holders should be subject to strict passport checks and - soon - fingerprinting and facial biometrics on journeys to the EU. The time taken to administer these new procedures has led the British leg of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to be cancelled. Today's travel podcast tells you all you need to know about the history of this...

Could the long and bitter dispute that has caused chaos since last June finally be approaching an end game? This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rail disarray once again, as most lines into Britain's busiest railway station are closed from the start of the morning rush hour. Why – and what's being done about it? This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Passports all over again. For travel with a British passport to the European Union, there are two – and only two – conditions: On the day of departure to the EU, less than 10 years since the issue date (all kids’ passports meet this test) On the intended day of return from the EU, at least 3 months until the expiry date. That’s all. Can everyone stop putting out misinformation, please? This podcas...

Rail services are getting back to normal in England, Wales and Scotland after  widespread closures for engineering work over the four-day Easter weekend . But rail passengers in some parts of Britain face continuing problems as some lines will remain closed until June. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast....

The adventurer and photographer Paul Goldstein is leading a trip to Baffin Island in Arctic Canada – seeking the perfect combination of Northern Lights and polar bears and extreme wilderness. I caught up with him before he went, safe in the warm embrace of his kitchen in Wimbledon. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up for it here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

On what's shaping up to be the busiest Good Friday since 2019, I travelled by coach to Dover to see whether the issues reported during the week were slowing coach passengers down as passport checks slow everyone. But what I've actually found is people being prioritised today, with my coach being whisked through Dover past lines of cars and lorries. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter...

Simon Calder gives you the travel outlook amid ferry, road and rail disruption over the Easter weekend. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s travel podcast is brought to you from Dover, where last weekend, around 20,000 coach passengers faced delays of 12 hours or more at the port due to enhanced post-Brexit checks. I bring you the travel forecast for the Easter weekend, amidst flight strikes and delays. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox on Fridays. Hosted on Acast. S...

I'm at London City, the first airport in the UK (with a million-plus annual passengers) to ditch the rules on liquids and laptops at airport security. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox on Fridays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Passport processing workers are beginning a five week strike, meaning if you're looking to get a British passport any time soon you may encounter delays. I take you through it all. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March has been miserable for many travellers. Will April be any better? Not at this rate. I've spent the morning at Heathrow airport, where the latest strike aimed at disrupting travel has begun. I've been counting how many flights were cancelled today - 78 so far. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acas...

I’m at Heathrow, where British Airways has cancelled 50 flights due to a strike by French air-traffic controllers.  Multiple departures to Amsterdam, Hamburg, Nice, Prague and Zurich have been grounded, along with the inbound legs from those cities. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

In today’s travel podcast, I talk with Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, about current travel bargains – and the "headwinds" facing travellers and the industry. "It's frustrating – all we want to do and all our members want to do is be able to provide consumers with great holidays." Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get...

I'm at the New Deal Europe conference in central London, talking all about the Balkans and around with noted tour guide and historian, James Hill. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heathrow security staff are striking for three days, causing all kinds of problems for British Airways. I take you through what to expect and when the strikes will be happening. Of course this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.