Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

180 years on from Thomas Cook’s first excursion, what is his enduring legacy? Face masks on trains. What’s happening? And cutting through the confusion on testing. 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 passport perils of Brexit Travel industry's great and good demand freedom And new air routes possibly 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 for more information.

Why you should go to Ukraine. It’s a year today since the great unlocking of international travel: how different things are now. And more on the Indian variant of the AstraZeneca vaccine: no need to panic. 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...

Could an Indian vaccine scupper your planned trip? More on Spain’s tests for British travellers. And the number of flights is increasing – particular on Ryanair. 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.

Spain spells out what tests you will need to visit. Malta makes a U-turn on how to prove you’ve been jabbed. And the next candidates for the red 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.

Today: not all roads lead to Rome for England fans. Malta seems to get tougher – but Portugal eases its restrictions. Who said travel was supposed to be easy? 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.

Today: more on those Mediterranean restrictions. Labour wants the borders closed. And how to travel in Scotland during the Covid era. 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.

Today: as Mediterranean Islands go green for travellers to the UK, the barriers go up for British visitors. A leading analyst says 22 more countries deserve to be on the green list. And don’t neglect the small things – the travel industry really can’t afford to mess 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 in...

Could a new health secretary change the way that travel opens up? The Boeing 737 Max is back and starting operations for the summer. And the elephants have landed in central London. 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 brought in by Malta just one day after they were put on the Green List. What happens to your insurance and points if you are to go against foreign office advice? And why we should be cruising the Balearics. 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/pr...

Who’s gone green? Who hasn’t, and why not? And the red list arrivals. 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.

Holidays postponed: most travel bookings last week were for next year. The Foreign Office drops its warning against travel to China. And a reminder about passport problems post Brexit. 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.

“Travel Day of Action”: What the industry is demanding – and what it might get? “We won’t do anything to put public health at risk” – so does that include not making them stay in the UK? And easyJet’s last throw of the dice goes wrong, with new flights from Manchester to Scotland already called off.  Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very l...

The strange tale of vaccine contraction: the more British people are jabbed, the less travel there is. Will Matt Hancock ease quarantine? And Indiana Wants Me, but Cornwall Doesn’t Necessarily 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.

Pilots’ union says UK is doing worst in Europe for flying. Should you take a chance on Malta going green? and Aer Lingus starts charging for cabin baggage. 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.

As the next “traffic light review” approaches, what “green list” additions might there be?  Could British Airways abandon Gatwick? Seven years late: part-time season tickets are about to arrive on the railways. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Germany’s tabloid press mocks the UK’s travel restrictions Italy makes arrivals from the UK quarantine And when will the UAE escape the UK’s red list? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jersey gives England a red card – but allows vaccinated travellers to swerve quarantine. Rail passengers face disruption from London to Inverness as rail strikes increase. And when might Turkey escape from the “red list”? Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Manchester airport and Ryanair take legal action against the government “We have the toughest border measures anywhere in the world,” says the prime minister. And easyJet’s last throw of the dice on summer routes. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

The Boeing 737 Max is on its way  to Ryanair – would you step aboard? Manchester passengers lose the Irish connection to America for the summer. And the race is on: a rail record attempt tomorrow between London and Glasgow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delay day – what does the postponed reopening in England mean for travel? Ryanair’s Belarus diversion: new revelations to MPs And a new ferry link between Wales and Northern Ireland. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four weeks since the Green List was created – what has changed since then? Cancelled flights: be sure of your rights. Faster trains promised from Edinburgh and Newcastle to London – but not for a year. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Aer Lingus and British Airways take over from failed Stobart Air. easyJet cancelling flights in July. Lufthansa deploying its biggest planes. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stobart Air collapses: why, what it means and your rights. Postponement for 21st June domestic reopening looks bad for travellers. And in the unlikely event you are going there anytime soon, Portugal has eased testing requirements. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Holiday prices collapse to Portugal – but soar to Jersey. Domestic tourism: a mountain to climb. And Heathrow numbers are down 90%, once again. Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletter and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.