Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

France looks set be upgraded from its amber plus loneliness. Italy extends the quarantine spell for British holidaymakers. And Saudi Arabia opens up to tourists once again. Should you go? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new rules on quarantine-avoidance for people vaccinated in other countries. International cruising is allowed once more. And the bizarre story of Réunion and the amber plus list. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six months on, the UK may finally grant quarantine-avoidance to people vaccinated in other countries. The Home Office “passport checker” is back and it’s just about working. And the worst job in travel public relations is up for grabs. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. S...

Today: What is Checkpoint Bravo and what could it mean for your travels? Ryanair warns of “bogus discount scam” And a Paris landmark restaurant is under threat.  Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foreign jabs – their status for avoiding UK quarantine. Heathrow and Ryanair report many millions more in losses. And the Home Office admits its online passport checker is useless. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The key questions you are asking me about travel in the time of coronavirus – what’s been weighing down my virtual mailbag, from travelling if you’re recovered from Covid to the chances of foreign vaccinations being recognised by the UK for the purposes of avoiding quarantine. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a da...

The race to the sun is under way – or is it? When your local airport will be busiest this summer. And could Queen Mary soon be sunk – deliberately? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of what should the busiest weekend of the year for Britain’s airports, my best guess on traffic light changes. What’s wrong with Canada, exactly? And an update on rail travel. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Advice for rail passengers this summer. The two testing issues that international travellers from the UK most often get wrong. And Croatia is the latest quarantine-free country to demand tests from British holidaymakers.  Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Today: As the summer getaway begins, if you’re driving, these are the key congestion locations in the UK. Italy: what’s happening with quarantine for Brits? And hypersonic air travel: coming to an airport near you? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Today: sadly I’m back from Ireland already, but I want to give you an update on the travelling experience between Great Britain and the Republic. easyJet loses £40 per second – but the boss tells me the future looks bright. And Crossrail could accelerate Heathrow airport journeys. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs...

Today: I’m in hot and sunny Dublin, capital of the only no-hassle foreign country. “Freedom day,” at least for some. And how to launder red list status from Turkey. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a French flavour with France making access much easier for vaccinated visitors. And how the transit rules will apply for people returning via France. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France goes to amber plus – I’ll be talking through all the implications of that overnight move. And in one piece of good news: Ireland is as green as can be. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Green light for Ireland from Monday. In quarantine and already double jabbed? What happens from 4am on Monday? And Thailand's Koh Samui opens up. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Balearics downgrade to amber list, while Bulgaria and Croatia get upgraded – what it means for your trip. Malta softens its stance on the Indian variant of the AstraZeneca jab. And I’m in Carlisle for a new exhibition, opening today. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast....

On British Airways, “buy on board” is back for economy passengers in Europe. Travelling by train on the West Coast main line? Watch out for closures tonight. And Manchester’s revived Terminal 2 opens today – with Heathrow Terminal 3 following tomorrow. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. H...

Rail Fare Reform – I’ve been hearing from a train ticket guru. Beneath the City of London, the Bank is closing for four months. And is red to green feasible in Thursday’s traffic light shuffle? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Green list speculation mounts. Center Parcs is coming home. To Crawley. And Heathrow’s woes continue. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journey into space – will orbital tourism take off? Planning your August trip? Not so fast. And how to avoid peak prices on the West Coast Main Line. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just started quarantining from an amber list country? Keep going. Malta’s vaccine surprise. And Wizz Air drops its UK domestic flights before they’ve even started. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How bad will the queues be for passport control this summer? What’s wrong with European vaccines? And some of the possible green list countries. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Amber turns Green – I’ve got all the details of the new “vaccination vacation” plan. When does it start? How will it work, especially for children? And how does the travel industry respond? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

New vaccination trials at Heathrow. What’s happening – and what isn’t? Face masks on the Tube could continue. And MPs demand action to win back the confidence – and business – of rail passengers. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Face masks on public transport after England's rules are relaxed on 19 July. What’s happening on trains, boats and planes? I have the answers. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.