Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

I do love to be beside the seaside, and it's been a while. To my right, the waves are breaking; to my left, a beautiful pine forest. The sand is incredibly soft: a gorgeous place to be, apart from the temperature which is approximately zero. Yes, it’s Baltic in the Baltics. But come summer the beach here at Jurmala in Latvia will be picture-postcard perfect. Of course this podcast is completely fr...

Reporting for you from the newly reopened South Terminal at Gatwick, de-mothballed after almost two years. This summer the competition to Europe from the Sussex airport is set to intensify, with Wizz Air setting up a new base and British Airways launching a low-cost subsidiary, BA EuroFlyer, for its short-haul ops. BA will also operate 35 short haul routes to destinations across Europe, Wizz Air 2...

The government has vowed to make P&O Ferries "undo" its the mass-sacking of 800 of its workers. Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said the ferry firm had “exploited a loophole” that would now be closed off by legislation and applied retrospectively. The Prime Minister has also weighed in, saying at PMQs that, "We will be taking steps to protect all mariners that are working in UK waters a...

The world is slowly reopening, as more countries drop their covid-era restrictions. Some like Singapore, South Korea and South Africa are dropping their requirements for passengers to be vaccinated and providing PCR test results. But as Maggie asked me on my AMA, Morocco might not be ready for the easter holidays. So I take you through the differing rates of restrictions being lifted and where is...

Air New Zealand is planning to launch one of the longest flights in the world, a direct track from New York to Auckland. From 17 September, the carrier will fly the 8,828-mile route three times per week, using a Boeing 787-9 – the same type used by Qantas for its even longer nonstop link from London to Perth. Currently, all but 27 per cent of the direct flight path is over the Pacific Ocean, but t...

On 5 March 2020, the UK’s largest regional airline collapsed. Flybe was mired in debt. Yet on 13 April 2022, the familiar Q400 aircraft in a purple livery will take off from Birmingham airport, destination Belfast City – with 22 more routes to follow. Where will Flybe fly, and how will it fare? Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at  indepe...

An airliner, operated by China Eastern Airlines, has crashed in the southern province of Guangxi while carrying 132 people on board. A rescue operation is underway and the number of casualties is yet to be confirmed. In light of this sad tragedy, I give an overview of the latest developments in aviation safety and of Boeing 737 aircrafts. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly...

In a sudden announcement yesterday, P&O Ferries made 800 of its UK seafaring staff redundant. The British shipping company plans to replace the former employees with cheaper agency workers in an effort to reduce its losses of £100m year-on-year. Union representatives have threatened legal action against the company and advised those affected to carry out sit-in protests against the job cuts. A...

Unions are threatening legal action against P&O Ferries after making 800 workers redundant earlier today. The company suspended its sailings after making all UK seafaring employees redundant with immediate effect. The former employees are to be replaced with cheaper agency workers in an effort to reduce the company's current annual losses of £100m. Like many transport companies, P&O Ferrie...

The UK's leading airport, Heathrow, has ended the requirement for passengers to wear masks in the terminals. In a statement, the airport said it “strongly encourages those at the airport to continue wearing a face-covering – particularly when coming into close contact with others”. I've come to Heathrow to see how it feels to wander around mask-free, and how other passengers are reacting to the po...

As I take a seat in the unusual (for me, anyway) surrounds of first class on my way to Crewe, I take advantage of the extra legroom and complimentary tea to have a think about the direction of travel for first class rail seats. The economics for rail travel is becoming harder to cover costs and I wonder where first class sits in that future. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my week...

Budget airlines are hoping to recover from the huge impact of the coronavirus pandemic by offering some incredible deals on flights. In fact, I've discovered that is even possible to travel around the world on a budget. Here is my itinerary for a round-the-world trip that takes advantage of the best flight deals being offered by the world's low-cost airlines. Of course this podcast is completely f...

It's the eve of the centennial anniversary of the birth of literary legend, Jack Kerouac. The 'On The Road' author, who pioneered the radical beat generation of the 1950's, holds a special place in my heart. To commemorate his life, work and too-early death, I go out on the road and down memory lane to discuss the magic and mishaps of hitchhiking. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is m...

Today's podcast is rather unusual: taking as its starting point a selection of questions asked by readers of the Independent about travel. I not only provide the answers – including strong views on some subjects – I also give a score out of 10 as to whether or not I would want to undertake the trip that the questioner has asked about. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly trav...

Gatwick airport, located in picturesque West Sussex, is ordinarily the UK's second busiest airport with flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has left Gatwick struggling to control huge losses, of £1 million a day in 2021, as well as an 84% drop in passenger numbers compared to 2019. Now, Gatwick is getting ready to restart a reduced short-haul programme, of...

St. Petersburg is one of the biggest cities involved in cruise line tours, with many operators stopping along the way in the Russian city. But as the invasion of Ukraine continues and Russia becomes evermore a pariah due to sanctions and companies pulling out of doing business there, I've had a lot of correspondence with readers and listeners asking whether they should be thinking again about thei...

The UK boasts of 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, forming a tranquil network of inland waterways that span the length and breadth of the country. Today, I'm celebrating the benefits of using canals to explore cities and countryside alike, whether you're on the water or using the well-maintained towpaths beside them. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can...

As the Russian military invasion of Ukraine continues, many are feeling apprehensive about travelling in Eastern Europe. I look at how to navigate the dangers of travelling to countries in conflict, and how Russia's bombardment and the resulting refugee evacuation may affect transport in neighbouring countries. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign u...

Today's podcast comes from Runcorn railway station! Living the dream, in spite of the mega-rise in the cost of train tickets. This week train fares rose 3.8%, the highest price increase for the last 9 years. But whether you're a commuter or hoping to embark on a long-awaited getaway, it is still possible to save money on your train journeys. Listen in for my money-saving travel tips, from finding...

To help you plan your upcoming journeys, I give an overview of the rail disruptions to look out for and why they are happening. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast comes to you from a rare London Underground train on a day when Tube workers are striking. I explain what the dispute is about, and what it will mean for passengers going forward. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world has fundamentally changed in the last week as Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has brought about unprecedented shifts in Europe and sanctions aimed at thwarting Russian plans effect everything from air routes to the cost of oil. In this episode of the podcast, I answer some listeners' questions about what impacts global events might have on travel plans around Europe as we all h...

Clean, green and convenient. Today I'm celebrating trams, and all the advantages they have over almost every other form of urban transport. And of all the cities providing tram networks, Melbourne is truly one of the best. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

Russia has launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. I give an overview of how the Russian military operations are affecting the European airspace, and what this means for airlines already struggling to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on...

Before booking the tickets for your next flight, one thing you may want to consider is the many benefits of cabin baggage. If decanting your body wash into 100ml bottles doesn't faze you, then it's worth checking the amount of cabin baggage allowed by your airline as it may be more generous than you expect. Be warned that bags are going missing in airports, so restricting yourself to cabin baggage...